We had our first Nintendo Direct in the Switch 2 era, while it wasn’t tailor made for my Nintendo taste, it was a good direct overall with some important updates and exciting games announced. Elsewhere, Ubisoft is making big changes to their Black Flag remake & we’ve gotten a leaked price for the ROG Ally.

Let’s get into it.

Late last week, Nintendo hosted their first Direct of the Nintendo Switch 2 era. It reveals a clearer picture of how Nintendo plans heading into 2026.

All things Mario kicked off the event in celebration of the plumber’s 40th anniversary. We got a first trailer for the Super Mario Galaxy movie, which drops in 2026, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is getting a Switch 2 re-release with a new multiplayer hub called Bellabel Park, and a brand new Mario Tennis game is on the way, with 30 power-up rackets, baby forms for the characters, and motion controls making a comeback. While we didnt get a new 3D Mario game, fans of the little red plumber should still be excited with these announcements.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally has a date. December 4. The new trailer showed off extended gameplay and this one looks like its going to be a good time! Samus now has psychic powers and a traversal motorbike named Vi-O-La. I’m hoping that I’m on Santas good list and find this one under the Christmas tree.

A new Pokémon game, Pokémon Pokopia, was revealed. You play as a Ditto disguised as a human, helping Pokémon settle into a customizable village. This game will be massive. Pokemon fans and casual cosy gamers will both love this title. Pokémon Legends: Z-A also got an update with new Mega Evolutions and DLC that drops players into Hyperspace Lumiose.

A new 2D side-scrolling Yoshi game, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, is on the way next year.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is a new mainline entry developed for Switch 2, targeting a 2026 release. It looks like the focus this time is on arena-based storylines and smaller-scale faction conflict instead of another continental war.

Also announced:

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined — A remake of one of the most popular games in the series.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment — The latest edition in this hack and slash franchise.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream — Mii sim revival, spring 2026.
Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics — I didn’t see this one coming. Not for me, might be for you.
Resident Evil Requiem — mainline RE9, launches Feb 27
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade — launches Jan 22
Monster Hunter Stories 3 — out March 13
PowerWash Simulator 2 — One of the most peaceful games ever, gets a sequel.

ROG Xbox Ally prices leak ahead of launch
Best Buy display pics list US$549.99 (Ally) and US$899.99 (Ally X); see the photos and spec blurbs.

Black Flag remake chatter firms up for 2026
Rumors point to dropped modern-day segments and beefed-up RPG systems—here’s what might change.

Origin: Founded in 1994 in Burbank, California. Grew from a three person startup into a PlayStation Studios mainstay known for fluid traversal, gadget heavy combat, and loud, colorful worlds.

Greatest Hits: Spyro the Dragon trilogy; Ratchet & Clank (A Crack in Time, Rift Apart); Resistance: Fall of Man; Sunset Overdrive; Marvel’s Spider Man; Marvel’s Spider Man Miles Morales; Marvel’s Spider Man 2.

What they’re working on now:
• Marvel’s Wolverine. Single player action adventure set in the X Men corner of the Marvel universe, widely reported to be targeting 2026.
• Spider-Man 2 support. New suits, patches, and ongoing accessibility and photo mode updates.
• Venom project. Reported standalone spin off that has not been officially announced.
• Engine and tech R&D. Continued work on streaming, traversal, and haptics that power their sandboxes.

Fun Fact: Ratchet & Clank exists because Insomniac canceled a PS2 project called “Girl with a Stick.” They scrapped it mid-development, prototyped a space lizard with a robot buddy within weeks, and that pivot became Ratchet & Clank. It is a tidy lesson in killing the wrong idea fast to find the right one.

Did You Know? After Mario Party wore out N64 palms with rotating stick minigames, Nintendo settled a complaint in 2002 by offering players protective gloves.

Till next time,

The Save File