Third Nintendo Direct of 2026 is still not the one you want warn insiders

The next Nintendo Direct will not feature any first party Nintendo games according to insiders, so what will be shown? 

We’re only a month into 2026 and yet there’s already been two Nintendo Directs, with dedicated presentations for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream. 

While signs initially suggested a major general Nintendo Direct was planned for sometime next week, expectations have been tempered following a new update from several insiders. 

The usually reliable NateTheHate, who originally claimed a Nintendo Direct was scheduled for early February, was asked on X whether the presentation would be a general Direct (with first party titles) or a third party Partner Showcase, after GameXplain claimed it was the latter. 

In response, NateTheHate wrote: ‘He is correct. Next week’s Direct will be a Partner Direct showcase.’ In a subsequent post, he went on to state the showcase will take place on Thursday, February 5. 

While he doesn’t give any indication as to what games could be shown, he does rule out any hopes of seeing the rumoured current gen upgrade for Red Dead Redemption 2. ‘Rockstar will handle the announcement of RDR2,’ he added. ‘It won’t be in a Direct.’

A Partner Showcase obviously isn’t as exciting as a general Direct, but there’s a chance this one could be better than the average. This could be the perfect time to show off FromSoftware’s upcoming Switch 2 exclusive, The Duskbloods. Although whether Nintendo counts that as a first party title, since they are publishing it themselves, is unclear.

Similarly, we might also get an update on the delayed Switch 2 port of Elden Ring. We’ve also seen various rumours recently on the Ubisoft side, including a Rayman anniversary collection, which sounds like the sort of thing that could be unveiled in a Nintendo Direct.

We’re also hoping for a release date (or shadow drop?) for Mina The Hollower, which was supposed to launch in October before it was delayed at the last minute. Also on the indie front, we might get an update on Witchbrook, the Stardew Valley meets Hogwarts life sim, which popped up in a Nintendo Direct last year and is slated for sometime in 2026. 

Nintendo’s first party line-up might be absent from the Direct, if it does turn out to be a Partner Showcase, but it does have titles on the horizon. Mario Tennis Fever is set to launch on February 12, followed by Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch 2 Edition on March 26, and Yoshi And The Mysterious Book sometime this spring.

When they’ll be discussed is unclear but if Nintendo had two Directs in January there’s no reason they can’t have the same or more in February. Although a Pokémon Presents is already expected for the 30th anniversary on February 27.

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