Nintendo’s July 31, 2025 Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase featured a mix of new game reveals, ports and release updates for Switch and Switch 2. Tom’s Guide’s live coverage reported announcements including Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, Persona 3 Reload and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. The dates below are the ones reported during that 2025 broadcast, not a current availability guide.
What was this Nintendo Direct?
The event was the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase held on July 31, 2025. Tom’s Guide identified it as the first Nintendo Direct since Switch 2 launched. As a partner showcase, it included games from outside publishers as well as Nintendo-related announcements; the lineup should not be read as a list of Nintendo-developed games.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2 | $59.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2) | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
This recap follows the announcement sequence in Tom’s Guide’s live coverage. Its release windows and dates reflect what the live blog reported at the time. They do not establish whether a game is available now or whether a date applied in every region.
Every reveal and update reported during the showcase
| Game | What the live coverage reported |
|---|---|
| Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection | Announced for Switch 2 in 2026. |
| Once Upon a Katamari | Reported with an October 24, 2025 release date. |
| Just Dance 2026 | Announced during the showcase; the entry did not give a release date. |
| Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero | Reported for Switch and Switch 2, with motion-control support and a November launch window. |
| Plants vs. Zombies | A remaster of the first game, with local co-op and PvP; the live blog reported an October 23 release date. |
| PAC-MAN World 2 Re-PAC | Reported for Switch 2, with a September 26 date. |
| Final Fantasy Tactics | Reported for Switch and Switch 2 on September 30. |
| Persona 3 Reload | Reported for Switch 2 on October 23. |
| Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment | Reported for Switch 2 in 2025; the entry did not give an exact date. |
| EA Sports FC 26 and Madden NFL 26 | Both were reported for Switch 2. |
| Chillin’ by the Fire | Reported as a same-day release. |
| Apex Legends | Reported for Switch 2 on August 5. |
| Hella | Described as a mouse adventure; the entry did not specify a release date. |
| Star Wars Outlaws | The live blog reported a September 4 Switch 2 date. Its comment on visual quality was the reporter’s opinion, not a technical specification. |
| Cronos: The New Dawn | Reported for Switch 2 in September. |
| Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance and Borderlands 4 | Included in a sizzle reel. |
| The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales | Revealed as a new 2.5D RPG, reported for 2026, with a demo available that day. |
| Octopath Traveler 0 | Reported for December. |
Did Nintendo announce Persona 3 Reload or Hades II?
Persona 3 Reload was among the showcase announcements: Tom’s Guide reported it for Switch 2 on October 23, 2025. Hades II, by contrast, appeared in the live blog’s pre-show speculation, not its list of broadcast reveals. Keep that distinction in mind when reading previews or search results that combine predictions with live updates.
#1 Best Overall
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
Why “latest news” is no longer current
The July 2025 showcase is a past event, not Nintendo’s latest Direct. Nintendo’s official site lists a later Direct dated September 9, 2026, with its own event page and news coverage. Those official pages establish that the later event happened; they are not independent confirmation of the full 2025 reveal list.
For present-day release status or regional availability, consult the relevant game’s official listing. The July 2025 live blog records what was announced at the time, not a current game catalog.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
- Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
- Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.
- Gather materials to create items and furniture, till the fields to grow delicious crops, build homes for the Pokémon you meet, and more—there’s so much to do!
- Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.
Rank #3
- Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!
- A brand-new 3D platforming action adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline
- Bash through just about anything in groundbreaking exploration! Crash through walls and carve tunnels—the more you smash, the more areas open up to you
- Pair up with Pauline to use Bananza Transformations: smash through obstacles with the raw strength of Kong form, gallop with incredible speed as a Zebra, and more
- Team up with a friend in two-player co-op as Donkey Kong and Pauline! Blast foes and terrain alike with Pauline’s voice as you explore together
Rank #2
- Blast off on a high-octane adventure to save a star system from invasion
- Tear through space, soar across planets, and shoot loads of foes out of the sky at every step of the way
- A cinematic take on the Star Fox 64 story, featuring fully voiced dialogue, an epic orchestral soundtrack, and a complete visual overhaul for the Nintendo Switch 2 system
- Enter first-person mode to experience the action from inside the cockpit, and even use mouse controls to fly
- Invite a second player* to join you as a gunner using Nintendo Switch 2 mouse controls
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
