Nintendo E3 2021 Direct: Highlights, Reactions, and What’s Next for Nintendo Switch

Nintendo’s presence at E3 2021 delivered a much-needed boost of excitement for Switch fans, as the company showcased a robust lineup of upcoming titles including long-awaited sequels, major franchise returns, and remastered classics.

Broadcast on June 15, 2021, the Nintendo Direct presentation offered a variety of announcements, drawing both praise and constructive criticism from the gaming community. A key highlight of the event was the reveal of Metroid Dread, the first new 2D Metroid title in nearly two decades and the direct narrative continuation of Metroid Fusion.

Developed in collaboration with MercurySteam, Metroid Dread is set to release for the Nintendo Switch on October 8, 2021.

Series producer Yoshio Sakamoto emphasized that technological advances now allow the developers’ vision of Dread—once conceived for the Nintendo DS—to finally be realized on current hardware.

Sakamoto described Dread as the culmination of the main Metroid saga, promising an experience that stays true to the franchise’s roots while leveraging the capabilities of the Switch. Other major announcements included Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp, a ground-up remake of the beloved Game Boy Advance strategy games, scheduled for December 3, 2021.

WarioWare: Get It Together! brings microgame mayhem to the Switch on September 10, while Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania and remastered classics like Danganronpa and Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water further expand the eShop’s already-diverse offerings. The Direct also provided a fresh look at The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, offering gameplay snippets and revealing a 2022 release window.

For RPG fans, Atlus delivered a substantial gameplay reveal for Shin Megami Tensei V, coming exclusively to Switch on November 12, 2021. While the announcement cadence and variety were praised for their breadth and pacing, some audience segments expressed disappointment at the absence of news for Animal Crossing: New Horizons or virtual console expansions.

Others noted the reliance on remasters and ports, wishing for more original first-party IP alongside the classics. Nonetheless, the second half of 2021 shapes up to be one of the strongest in the Nintendo Switch’s lifecycle, with a well-balanced mix of new titles, franchise revivals, and third-party support.

As the gaming industry continues to contend with development delays caused by the global pandemic, Nintendo’s E3 2021 Direct demonstrated commitment to delivering both nostalgia and innovation, ensuring that Switch owners have plenty to look forward to in the months ahead.

Nintendo Switch Metroid Metroid Dread Nintendo Switch E3 2021 E3 Advance Wars