Everything Announced at the July 31 Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase

After rumors circulating for a few weeks that Nintendo had yet another Nintendo Direct presentation planned for the summer, the curtain was pulled back by the Big N to confirm that July 31 would see the premiere of a new Partner Showcase focusing on new third-party games for the Switch and Switch 2. While there were a lot of familiar returning faces from prior showcases during the July 31 Nintendo Direct, the new games that were revealed were some big surprises that should make RPG fans very, very happy. The show kicked off with the surprise reveal of Monster Hunter Stories 3 and then closed things out with two brand-new games from Square Enix that look incredible.

• Release Date — TBA 2026
• Developer — Capcom
• Publisher — Capcom
• Genre — RPG
• Platforms — Switch 2

Nintendo’s Partner Showcase launched directly into a debut trailer for the third game in the Monster Hunter Stories series after a short intro. This newest game in Capcom’s criminally underrated monster-collecting RPG spin-off of the mainline Monster Hunter games is set to arrive sometime in 2026 as a Switch 2 exclusive, and it’s already a substantial visual upgrade over its two predecessors.

• Release Date — October 23, 2025
• Developer — RENGAME
• Publisher — Bandai Namco
• Genre — Adventure, Platforming, Puzzle
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch

The King of the Cosmos is back! Following the reveal of Monster Hunter Stories 3, the July 31 Nintendo Direct started in earnest, leading with the reveal trailer for the newest game in the cult classic Katamari Damacy series. This newest entry, Once Upon A Katamari, sees players gathering up all matter in the universe across a variety of historically themed settings, including one modeled after Edo-period Japan that looks like an absolute blast.

• Release Date — October 14, 2025
• Developer — Ubisoft
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Music/Rhythm
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch

Next up in the showcase was the reveal of the latest entry in the long-running Just Dance series, the appropriately-named Just Dance 2026 Edition. This upcoming iteration of the popular Ubisoft music/rhythm game features more than 40 new tracks as its main selling point, and it’ll be backwards compatible with the Switch 2. No word on an official Switch 2 version or upgrade, though.

• Release Date — November 14, 2025
• Developer — Spike Chunsoft
• Publisher — Bandai Namco
• Genre — Fighting
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch, Switch 2

Spike Chunsoft’s excellent Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is bringing its phenomenal arena-fighter take on the Dragon Ball Z franchise to Switch and Switch 2 this November, complete with a deluxe edition of the game that includes all the substantial post-launch DLC.

• Release Date — October 23, 2025
• Developer — PopCap Games
• Publisher — Electronic Arts
• Genre — Tower Defense
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch, Switch 2

One of the more surprising announcements from the Nintendo Direct was the reveal of a ground-up remake of the classic tower defense game Plants vs. Zombies. Dubbed Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, it takes the original game and upscales it to HD while keeping most of the core gameplay intact and adding in multiplayer functionality for some co-op tower defense.

• Release Date — September 26, 2025
• Developer — EA Canada
• Publisher — Electronic Arts
• Genre — Sports
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch, Switch 2

The latest game in EA Sports’ professional soccer simulator since losing the FIFA license is coming to all platforms, including Switch and Switch 2, this September. EA Sports FC26 is bound to be one of the company’s best-selling sports games this year (as it is every year), and the Switch and Switch 2 versions have a strong track record of being solid ports that should be worth grabbing for anyone looking for a soccer fix on the go.

• Release Date — September 24, 2025
• Developer — Now Production
• Publisher — Bandai Namco
• Genre — Platformer
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch, Switch 2

Another remake making its debut in the July 31 Nintendo Direct is the upcoming reimagining of Pac-Man World 2, which is launching on all platforms including Switch and Switch 2 this September. The original Pac-Man World 2 is a much-loved cult classic among 3D platformer fans, and the Re-Pac remake is perfectly timed with the character’s current spotlight courtesy of Shadow Labyrinth.

• Release Date — September 30, 2025
• Developer — Square Enix
• Publisher — Square Enix
• Genre — TRPG, Turn-Based Tactics
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch, Switch 2

We already knew that Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Alliance was coming this September, and we also knew it’d be arriving on the Switch and Switch 2. Still, it was nice to see some new footage during the Nintendo Direct that showed off both the new voice acting and some of the more helpful features included in the remaster, such as the ability to review story events.

• Release Date — October 23, 2025
• Developer — Atlus
• Publisher — Sega
• Genre — JRPG
• Platforms — Switch 2

The ground-up remake of Persona 3 is headed to Switch 2 this October, where it looks like it’ll be just as visually impressive as on other platforms. Worth noting, however, is that Persona 3 Reload‘s Switch 2 version will be yet another Game Key Card, meaning the cartridge won’t actually house the game’s data.

• Release Date — TBD 2025
• Developer — Koei Tecmo
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Musou, Action RPG
• Platforms — Switch 2

Similar to how Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity was a musou prequel to Breath of the Wild, the upcoming Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a hack-and-slash prequel game to Tears of the Kingdom. After making its debut during the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, the title once again reared its head during yesterday’s Partner Showcase, showing off more of the game’s story and combat. We still don’t have a release date for Age of Imprisonment yet, but the trailer did confirm that it’s on track to release this winter.

• Release Date — August 14, 2025
• Developer — Tiburon
• Publisher — Electronic Arts
• Genre — Sports
• Platforms — Switch 2

Joining FC26 in Electronic Arts’ commitment to the Switch 2 is the company’s latest iteration of its long-running NFL simulator, Madden NFL 26. The Switch 2 version of Madden NFL 26 shown off in the trailers looked great, but it’ll be interesting to see how Nintendo’s hardware handles one of the Madden series’ most popular components: online multiplayer.

• Release Date — July 31, 2025
• Developer — Oink Games
• Publisher — Oink Games
• Genre — Simulation, Cozy
• Platforms — Switch 2

This was a weird one. After a slew of high-profile third-party AAA games coming soon to the Switch and Switch 2, the Nintendo Direct pivoted to profile and then shadow drop a new cozy social sim game about hanging out by a campfire. The appropriately-named Chillin’ by the Fire makes use of the Switch 2’s camera and Game Chat functionality to allow players to have virtual s’mores cookouts and more while relaxing by a virtual campfire.

• Release Date — August 5, 2025
• Developer — Respawn Entertainment
• Publisher — Electronic Arts
• Genre — FPS, Multiplayer
• Platforms — Switch 2

The final big announcement from EA during the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase was the reveal that a Switch 2-enhanced version of Apex Legends would be coming to the console in just a few days. Like all other versions of Apex Legends, the Switch 2 version will be free-to-play and feature some visual and performance enhancements over the original Switch release.

• Release Date — TBA 2026
• Developer — Windup
• Publisher — Knights Peak
• Genre — Adventure, Puzzle
• Platforms — Switch 2

Windup’s Hela is a charming adventure and puzzle game centering around a diminutive mouse and the natural environments they get to explore, and it’s coming to Switch 2 after previously being announced for PC and other platforms. It’s giving off strong Bramble: The Mountain King vibes, and if it’s even half as good as that game, it’ll be worth picking up when it launches next year.

• Release Date — September 4, 2025
• Developer — Massive Entertainment
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Action-Adventure, Open-World
• Platforms — Switch 2

Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment’s Star Wars Outlaws finally has an official release date for Switch 2, arriving on the console on September 4. It’s one of several major AAA games from the current gen of consoles that we already knew were coming to the Switch 2, but it’s still nice to finally have an official launch window.

• Release Date — September 5, 2025
• Developer — Bloober Team
• Publisher — Bloober Team SA
• Genre — Survival Horror
• Platforms — Switch 2

One of the bigger and more welcome surprises from the Partner Showcase was the reveal that Bloober Team’s Cronos: The New Dawn would be launching on Switch 2 alongside other platforms. This will mark the first big new survival horror game for the Switch 2 library, so it’s a momentous occasion for longtime fans of the genre.

• Release Date — November 13, 2025
• Developer — RGG Studio
• Publisher — Sega
• Genre — Action-Adventure, Open-World, Beat ’em Up
• Platforms — Switch 2

Switch 2 owners already have the phenomenal Yakuza 0 available to them via the console-exclusive Director’s Cut, and this November, they’ll be getting both Yakuza Kiwami and Kiwami 2. The Kiwami games are remakes of the first two entries in the legendary Yakuza series, and together with Yakuza 0, they deliver some of the best open-world action around.

• Release Date — November 11, 2025
• Developer — Nice Dream
• Publisher — Skybound Games
• Genre — Simulation
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch, Switch 2

Another game that was revealed during the initial Switch 2 Nintendo Direct that narrowed down a release window as part of the Partner Showcase was Goodnight Universe. This simulation and adventure game sees players take on the role of a baby with psychic powers, and the new footage shown off in the latest trailer makes it seem like it should be a fun time for fans of adventure and puzzle games.

• Release Date — September 26, 2025
• Developer — Unfinished Pixel
• Publisher — Outright Games
• Genre — Sports
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch

One of the best arcade games of the early ’90s was NBA Jam, and it seems to be returning (in spirit, at least) with NBA Bounce. This kid-friendly and cartoonish basketball game features the licensing for the NBA but allows players to create their own avatars to use on the court.

• Release Date — TBD 2025
• Developer — Sunblink
• Publisher — Sunblink
• Genre — Adventure, Simulation
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch

The Island Adventure line of Hello Kitty-licensed games is getting its newest entry later this year with Wheatflour Wonderland. Given the name, it should come as no surprise that the simulation and cozy gameplay of this latest Hello Kitty game focus on running some kind of bakery, and it’s launching on the original Nintendo Switch along with other platforms sometime this fall.

• Release Date — July 31, 2025
• Developer — Square Enix
• Publisher — Square Enix
• Genre — JRPG
• Platforms — Switch 2

In a quick roundup toward the end of the showcase, Nintendo and Square Enix revealed and then shadow-dropped a Switch 2 enhanced version of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. This was one of my personal favorite RPGs of last year and an incredible remake, and the Switch 2 version adds yet another great role-playing experience to the console’s growing library.

• Release Date — August 29, 2025
• Developer — Lizardcube, Sega
• Publisher — Sega
• Genre — Action-Platformer
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch

To coincide with the upcoming Shinobi: Art of Vengeance making a quick appearance during yesterday’s Nintendo Direct, the game had a public demo go live yesterday on all platforms. It’s strongly recommended to play it ahead of the game’s release, as this latest Shinobi game and series revival has a lot going on under the hood.

• Release Date — October 3, 2025
• Developer — Gearbox Software
• Publisher — 2K
• Genre — FPS, Looter Shooter
• Platforms — Switch 2

We already knew that Borderlands 4 would blast its way onto the Switch 2 sometime after launch, and yesterday’s showcase finally let everyone in on when that would be. The Switch 2 version of Borderlands 4 launches on October 3, just a week after the game arrives on other platforms.

• Release Date — TBA 2026
• Developer — Clay Tech Works, Square Enix
• Publisher — Square Enix
• Genre — Action RPG
• Platforms — Switch 2

The July 31 Nintendo Direct presentation saved the very best for last, revealing two upcoming games from Square Enix that are each very different from one another. The first is The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, an action RPG that uses the gorgeous HD-2D art style popularized by Octopath Traveler and developed by Bravely Default II‘s Clay Tech Works. There’s a demo up now that offers a nice-sized chunk of gameplay, with more info coming soon ahead of the game’s 2026 release date.

• Release Date — December 4, 2025
• Developer — Square Enix, Dokidoki Groove Works
• Publisher — Square Enix
• Genre — JRPG
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch, Switch 2

Speaking of Octopath Traveler, the final reveal of the Nintendo Direct presentation was the announcement of a prequel game arriving this December. Octopath Traveler 0 does a lot differently from its two predecessors/sequels, allowing players to create a custom hero avatar and create a unique party of 8 heroes from a massive cast of 32 playable characters. There’s also a new town-building aspect that looks incredibly fun, making Octopath Traveler 0 one of the year’s more promising RPGs.