The March 27, 2025 Nintendo Direct focused on games coming to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, with updates on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A, newly announced games, and news about Nintendo’s app and digital game sharing. The two major games were not first revealed at this presentation: Nintendo described them as getting fresh looks. Their release dates have since passed.
What was announced in the March 2025 Nintendo Direct?
Nintendo’s March 27, 2025 newsroom recap said the presentation highlighted “a slate of new games and more coming to the Nintendo Switch system in 2025 and beyond.” The broadcast mixed updates on previously announced games with new titles, partner games, and Nintendo features. Nintendo’s U.S. recap and UK event archive cover overlapping selections, but use some region-specific game names and release information.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2 | $59.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2) | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
New Nintendo games
- Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream was identified as a newly announced Nintendo Switch game in Nintendo of America’s recap.
- Rhythm Heaven Groove was also identified as a new Nintendo Switch game in the U.S. recap. Nintendo UK calls the series Rhythm Paradise Groove; the naming differs by region.
Nintendo app and digital games
- Nintendo Today! is a free smart-device app for people with a Nintendo Account and a compatible device. Nintendo said it would deliver news, videos, comics, and other content tied to its franchises.
- Virtual Game Cards are a digital game management feature Nintendo said would let members of a Nintendo Account family group lend and borrow games.
Partner games
Nintendo of America’s recap included Tamagotchi Plaza, MARVEL Cosmic Invasion, STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar, PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY, and DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake, among other partner titles. The UK archive separately listed Disney Villains Cursed Café, Rift of the NecroDancer, and SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered as available to play there on the day of the presentation. Availability and preorder timing varied by region and title; see Nintendo UK’s event archive for its regional list.
What did Nintendo show for Metroid Prime 4 and Pokémon?
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Nintendo showed Samus Aran transported to the planet Viewros, where she gains psychic abilities. The presentation described using those abilities to redirect beams, operate mechanisms, and open doors. Nintendo’s U.S. recap framed this as a fresh look, not the game’s first reveal. At the time, Nintendo said it was coming to Switch in 2025.
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- 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
Nintendo later set the release date as December 4, 2025 for both the Nintendo Switch 2 edition and the Nintendo Switch version. Nintendo lists a physical Switch edition. See the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for Nintendo Switch store page for its listed platform and edition details.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
The update returned to Lumiose City and showed three possible first partners: Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile. Nintendo also highlighted the nighttime Z-A Royale tournament. As with Metroid Prime 4, this was an update on a previously announced game, not its first appearance at the Direct.
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
Nintendo’s store lists October 16, 2025 as the Nintendo Switch release date. See the Pokémon Legends: Z-A for Nintendo Switch store page for platform and release information.
Which release dates from the broadcast are still current?
The Direct’s original 2025 release windows are historical, not upcoming dates. Nintendo’s later official listings give these specific dates:
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
| Game | Release date listed by Nintendo | Platform information |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Legends: Z-A | October 16, 2025 | Nintendo Switch |
| Metroid Prime 4: Beyond | December 4, 2025 | Nintendo Switch 2 edition and Nintendo Switch version; a physical Switch edition is listed |
These are Nintendo’s listed release dates, not a statement about current retailer stock or price.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to see Nintendo’s original recap
Nintendo of America’s March 27, 2025 Nintendo Direct recap summarizes the games, app, Virtual Game Cards, and partner titles in the U.S. presentation. Nintendo UK’s archive provides its regional lineup and availability notes. The event archive also categorizes the presentation’s featured games and announcements.
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.
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.
