Nintendo Switch gamers have been anxiously awaiting another Nintendo Direct, and they got their wish on February 9th, 2022. However, with all the anticipation for games promised for the year, it was difficult to not feel let down by the news that Nintendo had to share.
While some great titles were announced, fans felt that the Nintendo Direct presentation was lacking to their expectations. Between long-awaited titles that gamers are desperately awaiting information for and the generally unexciting presentation, certain things from Nintendo Direct left Switch gamers disappointed.
No Information On The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
Perhaps the most anticipated game of 2022, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, is the game that fans really wanted to see. The game still has no official title or release date, so February's Nintendo Direct seemed like the perfect time to share this information with fans.
Recent teaser trailers for the game have advertised a release for 2022, but with the game's absence in the presentation, fans are starting to wonder if a 2023 release will be more realistic. There is still hope, though, as a holiday release is a likely possibility for the hugely popular title, but fans will have to wait and see.
No Information On Metroid Prime 4
Metroid fans have been eagerly waiting for Metroid Prime 4's release since its announcement at E3 in 2017. However, between COVID and other unknown delays, there has still been no official trailer for the game.
In 2019, Nintendo's official Youtube channel announced that development was starting over from square one. Given the time between then and now, fans had hoped that Nintendo Direct would shed some light on how the game is coming along, but there was no such luck.
No New Mario Kart Announcement
Mario Kart players have been feeling the itch for a brand new game, but when Nintendo Direct announced DLC for Mario Kart 8, they realized that this is not likely to happen any time soon.
The Mario Kart 8 Delux Booster Course Pass DLC looks fairly fun, with a considerable amount of new tracks to encourage gamers to revisit the title, but it is still difficult to accept that a Mario Kart 9 is not likely to happen until Nintendo releases its next console.
No Batman: Arkham Collection Coming To The Switch
Nintendo did manage to announce the arrival of a variety of games that have been a favorite on other platforms. However, fans had been expecting to see one that never appeared: the Batman: Arkham Collection.
IGN recently reported a possible leak that the Batman: Arkham franchise, a series with some of the best superhero video games ever made, would be coming to the Nintendo Switch in the summer of 2022. The idea of bringing these games to a portable system was exciting, but gamers were yet again let down. While there is always a chance these games will be available to Switch gamers down the road, it does not seem it will happen before the fall of 2022.
No Information On Bayonetta 3
The Nintendo website announced that the release of the third Bayonetta game was set for 2022, so fans have been eagerly awaiting more information. It has been eight years since the release of Bayonetta 2 and even longer since the original game, so the wait for the next installment has been an impatient one.
Once again, fans were disappointed as no new information was shared on the game. While it is possible Bayonetta 3 will be released closer to the holidays, gamers are getting nervous that they may have to wait yet another year for this title.
No Information On The Nintendo Switch 2
2022 marks the Nintendo Switch's fifth anniversary, so fans are expecting to start hearing about Nintendo's newest console at any time. While the current Nintendo Switch, as well as the Switch Lite and the Switch OLED, have kept players satisfied, a 4K display and additional storage would better serve newer games.
Gamers are not expecting a new console to release for another few years, but the anticipation of the upgrade announcement has left fans feeling let down by Nintendo Direct yet again.
The Finale Of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Was A Let-Down
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 held the final position in Nintendo Direct, which ultimately set it up for failure. Plenty of gamers are excited about the title's release, but when it comes down to it, there are other titles they want more.
Gamers patiently waited through many less interesting announcements, sure that they were going to get information on either Zelda or Metroid at the end of Nintendo Direct, so when Xenoblade held that spot instead, gamers could not help but feel disappointed.
No More Remastered Zelda Games
Since the release of the remastered Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Zelda fans have been anxiously awaiting other popular titles to hit the portable console. Rumors have been circulating for quite some time that fans would see Wind Waker and Twilight Princess available on the Nintendo E-Store, but, so far, this has not been the case.
Summer 2022 would be a perfect time to release the nostalgic GameCube titles, but since Nintendo Direct skipped any information of this happening, fans may have to let go of hope for the time being.
Too Many Old Game Announcements
Nintendo gamers love to see games from other platforms hit the Switch, but in the shadow of the passed over Nintendo exclusives, the announced games like No Man Sky and Kingdom Hearts seemed a little less exciting to fans of the console.
Gamers will still love to play these games on the go, making them welcome additions to the Switch, but when it comes down to it, there is so much else they would rather celebrate.
An Overall Boring Nintendo Direct
Perhaps gamers would have been a little more excited about the announcements in the February 2022 Nintendo Direct if they had been presented in a slightly more exciting way.
Viewers were excited at the idea of Nintendo Switch Sports but quickly became bored as they were forced to watch long minutes of Yoshiaki Koizumi demonstrating how to play volleyball. A lot more time could have been spent on more game features for other titles and less on motion gameplay that gamers are already familiar with.