Behind the 2018 Nintendo Direct Delay: How Real-World Events Shaped the Broadcast

In the world of video game news, few events are as closely watched as a Nintendo Direct.

Known for announcing major updates, new games, and surprises for Nintendo Switch owners, these broadcasts are typically a well-oiled production.

However, in September 2018, Nintendo fans were left waiting when a scheduled Nintendo Direct was unexpectedly delayed—a rare deviation from the company’s usual reliability.

The reason for this rescheduling involved a combination of global and internal considerations, now brought to light in a recent episode of a podcast hosted by former Nintendo of America employees Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang. Originally set for September 6, 2018, the Nintendo Direct in question was postponed by a week, moving to September 13 following a severe earthquake in Hokkaido, Japan.

This natural disaster significantly impacted Japan’s infrastructure and communities, prompting Nintendo to make the responsible decision to delay the broadcast.

What was not so widely known at the time, however, was that the team at Nintendo of America was already grappling with another tragic event—the Jacksonville Landing shooting that had occurred during a Madden NFL tournament just days before. According to Ellis and Yang, while the earthquake served as the official catalyst for postponing the Direct, discussions were already taking place internally about whether a public-facing event was appropriate given the somber climate in the gaming community.

With EA, the publisher behind Madden NFL, set to be part of the show, Nintendo of America opened conversations with the company to gauge their thoughts on moving forward.

Although Nintendo of America stopped short of requesting a cancellation, the incident was taken seriously enough to be raised with corporate teams in Japan, reflecting the care and sensitivity with which Nintendo approached its planning. Krysta Yang remarked that the process behind organizing Nintendo Directs was well established by 2018, but acknowledged the complexity of making decisions in crisis situations.

She explained, "We entered this situation from a place of uncertainty and anxiety—first due to the shooting in the United States, and then compounded by the devastating earthquake in Japan.

There was a strong sense of responsibility in figuring out the right path forward." Kit Ellis added that the decision to delay was ultimately made by Nintendo's top leadership.

He recounted, "I remember late that day there was a call—Doug Bowser spoke directly with Mr.

Furukawa.

The directive was clear and immediate: the Nintendo Direct would be delayed.

There weren’t any prolonged deliberations; the call came from the top, and we acted." Once the decision was final, the Nintendo of America team worked well into the night to coordinate with all relevant parties, including third-party publishers.

The need to quickly inform multiple organizations raised concerns about potential leaks, as there was a week-long gap before the rescheduled broadcast.

Yet, thanks to diligent communication and confidentiality from partners, very little information surfaced ahead of the official event. The 2018 incident is not the only time external factors have influenced Nintendo Direct scheduling.

In September 2022, for example, Nintendo chose not to livestream the Direct in the UK out of respect for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, although audiences elsewhere viewed the stream as planned.

Such instances underscore Nintendo’s commitment to sensitivity and community impact, even when planning major news for its passionate Nintendo Switch audience.

These behind-the-scenes insights reveal the careful thought and rapid action involved in delivering the Nintendo Direct presentations enjoyed by millions—reminding us that in gaming, as in life, sometimes the real world reshapes even the most carefully laid plans.

Nintendo Nintendo Direct Nintendo of America America Kit Ellis Krysta Yang Nintendo Switch EA Madden NFL Hokkaido earthquake