Skip to main content

Nintendo Direct 2019: Here are all the biggest announcements

Nintendo held its latest Nintendo Direct video presentation on February 13, and it had plenty of news about upcoming Switch titles, as well as new game announcements that have us very excited. From Fire Emblem: Three Houses to the latest Zelda game, here are the biggest announcements from the presentation.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Nintendo Direct 2.13.2019 - Nintendo Switch

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is shaping up to be one of the biggest Switch games of the year, and Nintendo provided several details on its structure and story during the show. Set on a continent called Fódlan, the land has been split into three separate governments — the Adrestian Empire, the Faerghus Kingdom, and the Leicester Alliance. As a mercenary traveling with your father, you’re given the opportunity to teach at the Officer’s Academy located in the center of the continent.

Recommended Videos

Your students will become your units, and they can train at the academy to learn weapon types, magic, or abilities like horse riding. Three student houses are available, but you can only choose one of them during your adventure. As it’s classic Fire Emblem, you are also seeing visions of a girl named “Sothis” in your head, but she isn’t visible to anyone else.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses releases exclusively for Nintendo Switch on July 26. The “Seasons of Warfare Edition” will be available the same day and comes with an art book, 2020 calendar, CD, and steel book case.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening - Announcement Trailer - Nintendo Switch

Classic Game Boy adventure The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is getting a full remake on Switch, which preserves the top-down perspective of the original while using modern 3D graphics. The game will contain 2D segments, as well, and will have the same snappy swordplay you know and love from the Game Boy version.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is out on Switch later this year.

Super Mario Maker 2

Super Mario Maker 2 - Announcement Trailer - Nintendo Switch

Super Mario Maker is getting a full sequel on Switch, appropriately titled Super Mario Maker 2. The sequel gives you access to all the same visual styles as the first game, but a host of new game objects and tools to make your creations even more dastardly. To accommodate for the Switch’s different control scheme compared to the Wii U, there will be a wheel interface for picking items and it appears hazards can approach from the background to the foreground as well.

Super Mario Maker 2 releases on Switch June 19.

Tetris 99

TETRIS® 99 [Nintendo Direct 2019.2.14]

We never thought Tetris would be the latest home for a battle royale game, and yet Tetris 99 is real. The free-to-play game matches 99 players against each other in a battle to be the last player standing. As you play your Tetris board, you’re given “garbage” that can be thrown at other players to eliminate them.

Tetris 99 is available now and requires a Nintendo Switch  Online account to compete against other players.

Astral Chain

Astral Chain - Announcement Trailer - Nintendo Switch

Astral Chain is the latest stylish action game from Platinum Games and it will star two heroes battling against demon-like enemies at the same time. Details on the project remain scarce at the moment, but development is being supervised by Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya and its team includes at least one Nier: Automata staffer. There are also robotic dogs who can be your friend, so we’re looking forward to that.

Astral Chain is out on Switch on August 30. Platinum Games continues its work on Bayonetta 3, as well, but no release date or gameplay was shown during the presentation.

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Everything announced at the June 2023 Nintendo Direct
Princess Peach in Super Mario RPG.

The second Nintendo Direct of the year has come and goneg, and it ended up being a good one for Nintendo Switch players. While none of the third-party announcements were that exciting, we got a new look at the soon-to-be-released exclusive Pikmin 4, and Nintendo finally revealed what's coming to the Switch during the back half of 2023. Mario will dominate the Nintendo Switch's fall lineup thanks to a remake of Super Mario RPG, a new WarioWare title, and a brand new 2D platformer titled Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

A game starring Princess Peach was even teased for 2024. The early morning event lasted over 40 minutes and quickly went through lots of announcements. We know that it might have been tough for some of you to tune in live, so we've recapped everything announced during the June 2023 Nintendo Direct right here.

Read more
Everything announced at the February 2023 Nintendo Direct
Samus Aran stands tall in Metroid Prime Remastered.

Nintendo is the king of digital video game showcases, and the company jump-started its 2023 with another great show. This February 2023 Nintendo Direct gave us our best look at The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom yet, highlighted upcoming Nintendo Switch exclusives like Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, and Pikmin 4, and featured the shocking reveal and shadow drop of Metroid Prime Remastered. On top of all that, we learned thattwo new platforms are coming to Nintendo Switch Online.

We now have a clear idea of the Nintendo Switch's game lineup through the summer, so there's no doubt that this Nintendo Direct featured lots of notable announcements. As it can be hard to keep track of it all, we've recapped everything Nintendo announced during the February 2023 Nintendo Direct right here.

Read more
Nintendo Direct February 2023: how to watch and what to expect
Link runs toward a ledge in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

It's that time of the year again; the first Nintendo Direct of 2023 is upon us. Today, Nintendo is holding one of its trademark video game showcases toward the start of the year in order to tease what players can expect from the company for the rest of 2023. With The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on the horizon as well, today's Nintendo Direct is particularly exciting.

So you'll probably want to tune into the Nintendo Direct later today. If you're wondering how to do that and what else to expect from the event, we've rounded up all of that information here for you.

Read more