Nintendo’s September 2026 Nintendo Direct wrapped up its 45-minute slot on a quiet note, delivering Metroid Ravenous and Kirby and the World Beyond as its marquee reveals while leaving a long list of rumored titles conspicuously absent from the stage. The morning show, which also gave Mario Kart World a welcome update, ultimately failed to satisfy a Switch 2 audience that had been hoping for bigger announcements as the year winds down — with FromSoftware’s vampire-themed exclusive The Duskbloods, a new Luigi’s Mansion game, an Animal Crossing entry, and even a fresh Super Smash Bros. all expected by fans yet never confirmed.
For many viewers, the absence of these titles turned what was already a packed schedule into something resembling a buffet with the main courses missing. Nintendo Switch 2 owners have enjoyed a strong slate of releases in their console’s second year, but the void left behind by unannounced flagship projects has become a defining talking point across social media and gaming forums alike.
The Duskbloods: A Year Without Answers
The most glaring omission may well be FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods, the vampire-themed multiplayer exclusive that has carried a 2026 release window since its announcement. Despite a year of updates and mounting speculation about the Elden Ring developer’s next venture, the studio has remained stubbornly tight-lipped on specifics.
“As details have snowballed into the public consciousness in recent months, it feels like the only thing fans don’t know about the game is its actual release date,” noted our coverage of the title. Today’s Direct presented what appeared to be a natural opportunity for FromSoftware to pin down a calendar date — and when the show concluded with Kirby rather than Zork, concerns rippled through the community.
The Duskbloods has been one of the most anticipated Switch 2 exclusives all year. A Direct that closes without even a hint of progress feels like a slap in the face to everyone who’s waited patiently for FromSoftware to finally deliver.
A dedicated Switch 2 fan
The situation is complicated by reports that a recent network test did not go off without a hitch, adding fuel to speculation about the game’s status. While Nintendo has not officially confirmed a delay — and FromSoftware has never wavered on its release schedule in prior projects — the mounting silence suggests the studio may be running out of time if it wants The Duskbloods out before year’s end.
A Ghost-Hunting Void and a Missing Island
The absence of Luigi’s Mansion 4 has only deepened the sense of disappointment. Next Level Games, which was officially acquired by Nintendo in 2021, has been largely occupied with supporting Metroid Prime 4’s development since its last headlining release — Mario Strikers: Battle League — landed back in 2022.
Couple that with the fact that it has been almost seven years since the team put out Luigi’s Mansion 3, and you have a recipe for fan frustration. Nintendo has not officially announced a new entry into Mario’s brother’s ghost-hunting series, but given the last mainline game’s success, many are hoping to hear from Next Level Games sooner rather than later.
The Animal Crossing situation tells a similar story. A new installment in Tom Nook’s beloved franchise was never explicitly announced, yet fans clamored for more after 2020’s monumental Switch debut and the January release of a Switch 2 version that gave villagers fresh reasons to return to their island getaways.
I mean, me because they didn’t announce Animal Crossing. It’s not like Nintendo is going to surprise us with anything we weren’t already expecting at this point in the year.
A frustrated community member
Mario Kart World: A Shadow Drop Falls Short
The one genuinely positive reveal of the show was Mario Kart World’s latest update, which brought reimagined Super Nintendo Entertainment System courses to players free of charge. It is undeniably a nice addition — and arguably one of the open-world kart racer’s biggest content drops yet.
However, judging by reactions across social media and even within our own comment sections, many felt the update could have packed more of a punch. “Anything to avoid giving us new costumes or original tracks, huh?” read one reader on our update reveal story. “Better than nothing, I suppose, but still — I’m curious what Nintendo’s long-term plans for this game are.”
There is nothing stopping the company from holding off on outfits or character DLC for longer, especially given that Mario Kart 8 eventually received its Booster Course Pass years after launch. Still, fans are being reminded not to write off Mario Kart World just yet.
The Missing Mainline: A New 3D Mario and Smash Bros.
No absence stung quite like the lack of a new mainline 3D Mario game. While something like The Duskbloods felt like a shoo-in, a fresh 3D romp was never guaranteed — but that did not make its omission any less painful for an audience still waiting fifteen months after the Switch 2’s launch.
“10 years without a 3D Mario game is fking pathetic I’m sorry,” one popular X/Twitter post said. “But hey, at least we get our second 3D Kirby in five years!!!!!”
The wonderful Donkey Kong Bananza has helped fill part of the nine-year void left since Super Mario Odyssey, but it is not changing the mood among fans who hoped Nintendo’s Yoshiaki Koizumi would have more to share during the show.
Super Smash Bros. represents perhaps the most significant gap between expectation and reality. Recent rumors stemming from notable leaker Malo932 suggested a brand-new, non-port entry was in development — yet despite nearly nine years since Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s release and almost exactly five years since Kingdom Hearts’ Sora joined as the game’s final DLC, no new installment or even a Switch 2 upgrade materialized.
Malo932 got fans’ hopes up when they said a new Smash Bros. was in development a few days ago. Alas, the legendary crossover fighter did not return today, and the community took it about as well as you would expect.
Nintendo Direct coverage
Rumors of Other Titles: Nintendogs and Star Fox
Beyond the marquee franchises, fans also braced for a surprise return from the beloved Nintendo DS series Nintendogs. While what such a revival might look like on a Switch 2 remains anyone’s guess, the puppy simulation has entertained audiences before — yet if it does come back, it seems unlikely to be anytime soon.
Star Fox, meanwhile, did receive some attention during today’s show, though not in the form many expected. Another rumor from Malo932 suggested a brand-new Star Fox Adventures game was in development. Direct watchers noted that the original Star Fox Adventures only appeared as an installment in Nintendo’s Switch Online + Expansion Pack GameCube catalog.
Still, there is reason for cautious optimism. Adding SF Assault to the online service alongside new multiplayer content could help put the franchise back on track — provided a brand-new sequel eventually replaces the aging Star Fox Command.
Looking Ahead
Nintendo cannot please everyone, and with so many Switch titles landing before and after today’s show, there is plenty to play. The company also had such a large volume of news that it felt necessary to split its Legend of Zelda plans across its own 40th Anniversary Direct.
All of that said, Nintendo isn’t going anywhere. With roughly three months still left in the year, fans are being encouraged not to count out an appearance from their favorite franchise just yet — and to head to the comments below to share which games they most wanted to see at this September’s Direct.
For now, though, the takeaway is clear: while there were highlights to celebrate, the biggest names on everyone’s wish list simply did not show up for the bill.
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