E3 2021 is now one for the history books, with the Entertainment Software Association staging a free access virtual online-only from June 12 to 15. After last year’s cancellation, E3 organizers were primed to showcase an incredible range of upcoming hardware and software products. For those that didn’t have a chance to tune in, you can catch up with the E3 round-up!
One good turn deserves another
While the disruption caused by covid-19 was widespread and continues to be felt, the video game industry was credited indirectly with benefiting from stay-at-home orders and other health measures over the last year with a surge in hardware and software sales. Year over year, Nintendo blew past its own sales forecast for the Switch console, reaching lifetime sales of 84.59 million by May 2021. Seeking to build on these results, Nintendo unveiled a range of new titles in its Nintendo E3 Direct that it hopes will continue its momentum in the months ahead. Here’s a summary from its announcement:
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The roster for the veritable Super Smash Bros. franchise continues to grow, with the unveiling of Tekken’s Kazuya as the next DLC character for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Mario Party Superstars
As a follow-up to 2018’s Super Mario Party for the Switch, Nintendo unvealed Mario Party Superstars slated for release on October 29.
The game will serve up a collection of 5 classic Mario Party boards from the Nintendo 64 as well as 100 classic minigames from the N64 and GameCube. The title includes online, same system, and local wireless play for all game modes.You will also have the ability to randomly match with other players online for play and use stickers to communicate.
Metroid Dread
25 years after her debut in Metroid for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Samus Aran is back for a new adventure in Metroid Dread, an action-adventure game developed by MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD for the Nintendo Switch. The title will be released on October 8.
Mario Golf: Super Rush
As we know, Mario is a man of many talents, spanning barrel jumping, Smash Bros. fighting, Galaxy hopping, and kart racing. Mario also headlines Nintendo’s forthcoming release Super Mario Golf: Super Rush. Unlike traditional golf outings where you might swap stories at the tee, Super Rush pits each player in a battle for time, running down the green to their ball after each shot while leaving the caddy and golf cart behind.
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water
The survival horror video game developed by Koei Tecmo and sleeper 2014 Wii U hit will get its very own Switch debut later in 2021.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
As the monster hit that was credited with driving Switch console game sales, Zelda fans were thrilled and surprised when Nintendo teased the release of a sequel back in June 2019. Although there wasn’t any detailed news around the game, Nintendo did release a new teaser trailer with an announced release date in 2022.
Other highlights from the announced included:
Life is Strange Remastered Collection and Life is Strange: True Color are coming to the Switch.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania will have an October 5 release date.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin can be played with a demo released June 25, and for those that get invested but fear repeating the portions of the game upon purchase, all game progress will transfer over to the full title.
WarioWare: Get it Together
A two-player game that will launch on September 10th.
Shin Megami Tensei V
Announced a November 12 release date.
Danganronpa Decadence
A newly announced three-game collection that adds the Danganronpa S Ultimate Summer Camp virtual board game.
Advance Wars Re-Boot Camp
A remaster of the first two Advance War games will come to the Switch.
To round things out, it was also announced that Dragon Ball Z Kakarot + A New Power Awakens Set, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 +2, Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 1, and Strange Brigade will also be coming to the Switch.
What are your thoughts on these upcoming releases – did Nintendo get it right? Check out Nintendo’s E3 Direct video presentation and let us know in the comments below!
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