Nintendo fans tuned in today for a brand-new Partner Showcase, eager to see what third-party titles are coming to the Switch and its successor. The showcase, which aired at 6 a.m. PT, delivered a 25-minute burst of trailers, updates, and a few unexpected drops that had fans buzzing.
Unlike typical Nintendo Directs, this one focused strictly on games from external publishers. That means no Zelda, Metroid Prime 4, or Kirby in sight – something fans were prepared for but still quietly hoping to see. Instead, the showcase served up a variety of ports, remasters, and new indie titles that are coming soon.
The presentation opened with a slick trailer for Dragon’s Dogma 2: Cloud Edition, confirming a late September release for the Switch Cloud platform. This was followed by a surprise announcement: Persona 6 Prelude is getting a timed-exclusive side story for Switch 2 players, launching day-one with the console in March 2026.
Overall, it was a focused yet safe showcase. Fans of tactical RPGs, visual novels, and multiplayer brawlers had plenty to get excited about. But if you were hoping for a Switch 2 hardware blowout or a fresh Donkey Kong reveal, you’ll need to keep waiting.
Cloud Gaming Gains Momentum on Switch
Cloud versions were once the outliers on Nintendo’s eShop – now they’re a staple. The July 31 showcase – which delivered a packed day of indies, remasters and surprises – doubled down on this format, with multiple high-fidelity games getting cloud-based launches on current Switch hardware. Resident Evil 4 Remake – Gold Edition and Alan Wake 2 are both arriving via the cloud in Q4, making it clear that Nintendo is pushing graphical boundaries without requiring a hardware leap.
A short segment featured Ubisoft confirming Assassin’s Creed Shadows for a March 2026 release, running natively on Switch 2 but offering a cloud-based version for Switch players as well. This shift is a clear sign that Nintendo wants to bridge the gap between its aging handheld and the next-gen console.
Persona, Puzzle Games, and Pixel Art Galore
Japanese publishers had a strong showing today. In addition to Persona 6 Prelude, ATLUS also unveiled Shin Megami Tensei: Chaos Protocol for 2026, teasing a darker visual style and hybrid battle system. Meanwhile, fans of chill puzzle titles were treated to Unbox: The Origami Escape, an indie platformer with slick paper-folding mechanics that blends FEZ with Captain Toad.
The showcase also spotlighted BlazBlue Reignite, a 2.5D fighter with rollback netcode and Switch 2 optimization. With launch support for both platforms, Nintendo seems determined to make the Switch 2 the go-to place for fighting game fans in 2026 and beyond.
Still Missing: First-Party Icons and Hardware News
Despite the excitement, some viewers walked away feeling underwhelmed. The biggest complaint? Still no word on Metroid Prime 4, which has been radio silent since its teaser years ago. Additionally, fans hoping for a fresh look at Switch 2 hardware, UI, or pricing were once again left in the dark.
Nintendo reiterated that this was a Partner Showcase – not a mainline Direct – so the focus on third-party content wasn’t a surprise. But with the Switch 2 expected in early 2026, the clock is ticking for Nintendo to fully unveil its next-generation plans.
A Solid Warm-Up Before the Main Event
All in all, today’s Partner Showcase did what it set out to do: highlight third-party games and showcase the support studios are lending to Nintendo’s current and future systems. Between surprise reveals and cloud-enabled ports, there’s plenty for players to look forward to over the next 12 months. Now that the third-party cards are on the table, fans are expecting a full-blown first-party Direct in late August or September. That’s when we’ll likely see the big guns – Mario, Metroid, and perhaps even final details on the Switch 2 console itself. Until then, today’s Showcase gives players something to chew on.
