Nintendo has confirmed it won't be present at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show 2021, but does this absence signal a Nintendo Direct in the near future? The company usually holds several big Nintendo Directs throughout the year, though 2020 was an exception, with many events canceled because of the pandemic.
Rumors have suggested a Nintendo Direct is planned to take place soon and will formally announce the arrival of Game Boy and Game Boy Color games to Nintendo Switch Online. The idea of there being a Nintendo Direct in September is easy to believe, as Nintendo has been holding events in September for years. Rumors of the Game Boy and Game Boy Color games coming to Switch have also been corroborated by reliable sources, but there is little information regarding what else could be revealed this month.
Nintendo announced on Twitter that it won't have any booths or games at Tokyo Game Show 2021, though it will be cooperating with smaller developers showcasing Nintendo Switch games there. This absence could add credibility to the September Nintendo Direct rumors, but the truth is likely more complicated.
The Timing Of A September Nintendo Direct & TGS 2021
In reality, Nintendo has rarely appeared at TGS in any major capacity. According to Famitsu, Nintendo has only showcased minor games there in the past, such as Pocket Music for Game Boy Advance, and has never held shows there at the same level as those at E3. The main reason Nintendo pointed out it won't be at TGS this year is likely to avoid confusion regarding the developers showcasing Switch software at the event.
If the rumors of the September Nintendo Direct are true, it will likely be held early in the month. Tokyo Game Show 2021 begins on September 30, so there wouldn't have been much overlap between the events even if Nintendo did attend TGS. The company could easily have offered hands-on demos of upcoming Switch games like Metroid Dread or Mario Party Superstars, for instance. Nintendo's absence is instead just par for the course, and it shouldn't be taken as evidence of a Direct. Still, there is a lot of evidence to suggest a Direct is coming soon, and Nintendo fans might soon be playing Game Boy and Game Boy Color games on Switch.
Tokyo Game Show 2021 will run from September 30 to October 3, 2021.
Source: Famitsu