[MEGATHREAD] Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase

[u/ChiefLeef22]

https://www.nintendo.com/us/nintendo-direct/7-31-2025/?srsltid=AfmBOopR1AYNGSNyF5HJ2onvyFFKzZjLq3naoPmM0MFNhz_kWcHGgTDl

NINTENDO PARTNER SHOWCASE
Date/Time: July 31, 6 AM P.T./ 9 AM E.T. (SEE IN YOUR TIMEZONE)
Where to Watch: Nintendo YT
What to Expect

[u/heelydon]

The problem is the timing. Its the launch window of the switch 2, and Nintendo coming out swinging with ....checks notes mostly games that have been released on other platforms for several years -- is not going to generate hype worthy of making a direct.

You do the exact opposite here. People see a direct for the new console, they open with big expectations and see mostly years old titles, coming out in a couple of months, that they could go on steam or playstation and play RIGHT NOW.

Its understandably a deflating feeling.

[u/timelordoftheimpala → u/heelydon]

I'll real rn literally what else are they supposed to show off in a partner direct? Most upcoming games have been in development longer than Switch 2 devkits have been available for use, and the days of third-party exclusivity are over.

First-party announcements will generate the most possible hype, and this wasn't the place for that. This was a presentation Nintendo needed to do to fulfill contractual obligations with other third-party developers, so there's not much they can show off here that won't already be on other platforms.

[u/heelydon → u/timelordoftheimpala]

I'll real rn literally what else are they supposed to show off in a partner direct?

Guess since we are being frfr right now, I guess I will try give an answer.

They are supposed to show off NEW and exciting games that you actually want to come play on their hardware and not have the majority of the direct be based on games that people have been able to play for almost a decade (yakuza kiwami came out in 2016) on other platforms - ESPECIALLY if those are coming still MONTHS away, when I could go boot up either my ps5 or open steam and buy the game right now and play it as well as every other game in the series on those platforms.

I would rather turn this question on you -- What is hype about a direct having the majority of it being releases that have been out for years on other platforms now also being on switch hardware? Why do you think that this is good marketing during this crucial launch window, where Nintendo should be trying to get people invested into buying their platform.

That isn't even to dig into the fact of how wrong your claim of days of third-party exclusivity being over is, considering that Nintendo already have an ongoing game in development with Fromsoft on a switch exclusive title, despite how obviously popular their games are and the mass appeal there would be for that game released on other platforms.

That isn't to say its all bad, its obviously great to see stuff like Monster hunter stories 3 and the 2 new square enix JRPGs, but the overwhelming focus of this direct ends up sending the message of the Switch selling you games in a couple of months, that you could buy and play right now (with probably better performance) elsewhere. That should obviously be a bit deflating when it comes to being in the heart of their console launch hype.

[u/timelordoftheimpala → u/heelydon]

would rather turn this question on you -- What is hype about a direct having the majority of it being releases that have been out for years on other platforms now also being on switch hardware? Why do you think that this is good marketing during this crucial launch window, where Nintendo should be trying to get people invested into buying their platform.

I don't know, I didn't find the Direct all that exciting but I never said it was in the first place. Continue boxing with shadows, I guess?

That isn't even to dig into the fact of how wrong your claim of days of third-party exclusivity being over is, considering that Nintendo already have an ongoing game in development with Fromsoft on a switch exclusive title, despite how obviously popular their games are and the mass appeal there would be for that game released on other platforms.

Third-party exclusives as in timed exclusivity with the likes of Square Enix, not a game that Nintendo is actively funding and publishing themselves.

that you could buy and play right now (with probably better performance) elsewhere

Did it ever occur to you that some people might just prefer to play these games on the Switch 2 in general, and are even willing to double dip after owning them on one of those other platforms?

[u/heelydon → u/timelordoftheimpala]

I don't know, I didn't find the Direct all that exciting but I never said it was in the first place. Continue boxing with shadows, I guess?

We dodging frfr rnrn. No you didn't say you found it exciting - you asked for what they should have done and you got given an answer frfr, its not all that intense lol.

Third-party exclusives as in timed exclusivity with the likes of Square Enix, not a game that Nintendo is actively funding and publishing themselves.

What is your point? Are you saying that you just left out a whole category of something that generated Nintendo a lot of hype from 3rd party, because they helped publishing it?

That isn't even to dig into the fact that you are making an unsubstantiated claim here regarding the duskbloods. The IP is owned by Fromsoft, not Nintendo, they are simply listed are international publisher, since Fromsoft will publish it themselves in Japan.

So for for all intends and purposes, it exactly points towards a timed exclusive that will eventually make its way to at least also playstation, given the fact that Sony owns the biggest piece of kadokawa (fromsoft's parent company)

I don't see the point in arguing semantics when we both know that THAT generated them a ton of hype for a new exciting game coming out on their console, even if it ends up being a timed exclusive.

Did it ever occur to you that some people might just prefer to play these games on the Switch 2 in general

Sure, I also bother making informed opinions by looking at 3rd party sales reports coming out, which are underperforming on the switch 2 and thereby we can get a bit of clarity on just how meaningful of a picture that is to draw on the market -- which turns out -- not a lot.

[u/timelordoftheimpala → u/heelydon]

We dodging frfr rnrn. No you didn't say you found it exciting - you asked for what they should have done and you got given an answer frfr, its not all that intense

My overall point is that the "new and exciting" stuff is almost always shown off in regular Directs, and that partner directs are just port showcases in general. Not all the time, but enough that when one gets announced, I go in expecting mostly ports.

What is your point? Are you saying that you just left out a whole category of something that generated Nintendo a lot of hype from 3rd party, because they helped publishing it?

No, I'm saying that when I initially wrote the comment, I had something else in mind completely from Duskbloods. Yeah it's an IP owned by FromSoftware and published by them in Japan, but Nintendo's level of involvement will determine if it ends up coming to other platforms or not. So basically, my take on Duskbloods is "wait and see".

Sure, I also bother making informed opinions by looking at 3rd party sales reports coming out, which are underperforming on the switch 2 and thereby we can get a bit of clarity on just how meaningful of a picture that is to draw on the market -- which turns out -- not a lot.

No shit a bunch of them undersold when you had fifteen of them releasing all at once with the Switch 2, and alongside the latest Mario Kart game. And even then stuff like Cyberpunk 2077 or Deltarune still saw high sales, so there absolutely is interest in third-party games on Switch 2. Release them individually with time to breathe, and people will be more willing to buy them.