This month’s Nintendo Direct could be a Partner showcase, it’s claimed

Nintendo’s regular February Nintendo Direct live stream will be a Partner Direct this year, it’s claimed.

That’s according to the Nate the Hate podcast, a show which regularly breaks stories in the games industry, which suggests Nintendo could use its next Direct to highlight remaining third-party Switch content, before the expected imminent announcement of a successor console.

“I’m going into the first Nintendo Direct of this year with the expectation that it’s going to be a Partner Direct,” Nate said. “I don’t think Nintendo will host a general Direct this February, I think they’re going to do third-parties instead.”

Nate had previously stated on the Famiboards forum that, “I know the exact format of the Direct and what to expect from it, but I don’t know the day of presentation.”

Partner Directs are Nintendo’s digital presentations focused on games from third-party developers.

Fans were already expecting a Nintendo Direct this month since, historically, Nintendo has held one in February for the past five consecutive years.

Although the company is yet to comment publicly, Nintendo’s Switch successor is widely expected to launch this year, after VGC reported last summer that development kits were in the hands of key partner studios.

Bloomberg also reported last month that the console will have an 8-inch LCD screen when it launches this year, corroborating previous VGC reporting that it won’t launch with an OLED screen.

During a Q&A session following Nintendo’s financial results briefing on Wednesday, the company was asked what risks it’s especially mindful of as it looks to build on the success of its dedicated gaming platforms and its expanding IP business.

Despite the console’s blockbuster success, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said it’s taking nothing for granted, given its past experiences with tricky generational transitions.