I'm Convinced The Switch 2 Direct Will Give Us A Look At This New Nintendo Game

After a long and arduous wait for Nintendo to announce its next console, forced to rely on unconvincing leaks and rumors to get any sliver of information, it has finally announced the Nintendo Switch 2. It did so back in a surprisingly low-key YouTube trailer on January 16, 2025, much to the delight of fans. However, there were naturally those, including myself, who wanted to know more about this console than just what it looked like.

Fortunately, alongside the official reveal of the Switch 2, Nintendo also confirmed a Direct that would further showcase the console and some of its games. Well, we're now mere hours away from it, and people are already beginning to wildly speculate on the Switch 2 Directs' biggest reveals, including its launch-day lineup. However, while we don't have much information on what will appear, I'm pretty sure that one game will be heavily featured during the Direct and will also likely be a day-one release.

Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Is Happening On April 2

It Is Showing Off The Console & Its Games

The first Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is taking place tomorrow, April 4, 2025. It starts at 6 am PT/9 am ET and will last a whole hour, making it one of the longest Nintendo Directs ever to air. Naturally, fans have plenty of predictions for games that could be announced, but outside the card at the end of the original Switch 2 reveal trailer that just announces what date the Direct will be on, Nintendo has given no information about what to expect. That's not surprising, as typically, Nintendo keeps the contents of a Direct under lock and key.

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However, what we do know is that Nintendo will fully break down the console and its functionalities - including the Switch 2's mouse-like controllers - as well as show off some games. Most of these games will likely be launch titles, although Nintendo is also likely to showcase some higher-profile games that may not be ready for the first day of launch but could be coming out towards the end of the year. This will also likely include third-party games, which are rumored to be releasing during the Switch 2's second phase.

I'm Convinced We'll See More Of Mario Kart 9

It Will Be One Of The Direct's Biggest Games

The Nintendo Switch 2 playing the new Mario Kart game from the reveal trailer.

Of course, there is one game that I'm almost certain will appear during the April Nintendo Switch 2 Direct: Mario Kart 9. It makes perfect sense that Nintendo would put a spotlight on the next Mario Kart game, not only because it is very likely to be a Switch 2 launch title but also because it has already shown off some gameplay. During the original Switch 2 reveal, Nintendo sneakily showcased a few seconds of MK9 footage without saying what game it was. It was just enough of a tease to show off the consoles' power without revealing too much.

However, fans like myself want to see more and soon. Nintendo will definitely understand that, as it would be ridiculous to show off brief clips of a game and then not follow that up with meaningful gameplay when revealing the Switch 2's launch catalog. Furthermore, considering that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was released during the original Switch's launch window in 2017, and, outside of DLC, we haven't had a new Mario Kart game since, there's an very good chance that the very first game coming out on the Nintendo Switch 2 is the next Mario Kart.

Will MK9 Be A Switch 2 Launch Title?

It Will Almost Certainly Launch Alongside The Switch 2

Mario driving his kart on a Switch 2 screen in the new, untitled Mario Kart.

It seems very likely that Mario Kart 9 will be a Nintendo Switch 2 launch title, based on the enormous success of its predecessor. It has also, as aforementioned, been a considerable amount of time since the last Mario Kart game, and fans are vocally asking for more. Nintendo has also already shown off Mario Kart 9 footage running on the Switch 2, which indicates it's already ramping up hype and marketing for it. However, it is possible that Mario Kart 9 skips the Switch 2's launch day, and, like MK8 Deluxe, releases a month or so later.

According to Krysta Yang - who used to be a PR Manager for Nintendo of America - it is "unlike Nintendo" to make Mario Kart 9 a launch title. During a Kit & Krysta YouTube video, Yang mentioned that Nintendo prefers to make more unconventional or surprising games as its launch titles and then later release the ones fans expect. This was the case with the undeniably groundbreaking Breath of the Wild for the Nintendo Switch. However, as Yang also notes, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's immense commercial success and enormous fanbase could be enough to incentivize Nintendo to break its rule.

Mario from Mario Kart 8 posing in front of the Rainbow Road course

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While it remains somewhat in the air, I have a strong suspicion that Nintendo will make Mario Kart 9 a launch title, or, at the absolute least, release it a month after launch. It is the perfect game to buy bundled with a Switch, thanks to it being a co-op experience, and also, if the rumors of MK9's new gameplay features are true, a great way of showcasing the power of the Switch 2. Either way, it doesn't feel like it'll be long until we finally have our hands on Mario Kart 9 running on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Source: Kit & Krysta/YouTube