Nintendo confirms Monday Direct Mini ‘focused on partner games’

Nintendo has confirmed it will publish a new Nintendo Direct Mini presentation today, focused on games from its development and publishing partners.

The ‘Partner Showcase’ Direct is described as the first in a new series, and is set to be released at 10am ET / 3pm BST with “a few updates on a small group of previously announced Nintendo Switch games.”

According to Nintendo’s Japanese Twitter account, today’s presentation will last just 10 minutes.

The date of today’s Direct was correctly leaked by a noted insider earlier this month.

The timing puts the Direct beyond the release of Paper Mario: The Origami King, which was Nintendo’s only major release confirmed for the rest of the year. However, from the presentation’s description, it does not appear the firm will announce any first-party games.

Since 2013, Nintendo has streamed regular Nintendo Direct presentations to update consumers on its product plans. However, complications around remote working have contributed to the company deciding to push back its schedule in 2020.

Nintendo did not hold a June Nintendo Direct this year and there hasn’t been a full Direct broadcast since September 2019, with the platform holder instead deciding to air smaller streams mostly focused on individual titles such as Animal Crossing and Smash Bros.

Sources had previously told VGC and publication VentureBeat that Nintendo could hold back its next full Direct until as late as August or September.

Last month, the company’s president Shuntaro Furukawa reaffirmed its commitment to the Direct model, telling investors that it believes the live-streamed presentations are still an effective means of communication.