After what seems like an eternity of waiting, Nintendo has announced that a new Direct will take place tomorrow and that it will feature news about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – as well as announcements for games coming in the first half of 2021. The new Direct will be the first full one since September 2019, not counting the smaller Directs focused on single games, the Indie World showcases, and the individual Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Directs.
Nintendo's 2021 schedule has been worrying fans of the system, as the recent release of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury marked the last first-party release of the year. There are a couple of high-profile third-party games on the way, like Bravely Default 2 and Monster Hunter Rise, but nothing is scheduled related to any of Nintendo's homegrown franchises. It's believed that a game in The Legend of Zelda series has to be on the way – as 2021 marks its 35th anniversary – but no one can say for sure.
The long wait for more Nintendo news is almost over. According to the Nintendo of America Twitter account, a new Nintendo Direct is taking place on February 17 at 2 pm PT/5 pm ET/23 pm CET. The Direct will include news about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which will almost certainly be a new character reveal, and information about games that are coming to the Switch in the first half of 2021.
The announcement of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate news is especially exciting, considering that it has only been a few months since Sephiroth appeared in the game as a DLC fighter. It's likely that the Direct will only contain a reveal trailer for the fourth character from the second Fighters Pass, and that a full release will happen in the future. It's possible that the next character will be related to the Pokémon or Legend of Zelda franchises, as they have big anniversaries coming up.
The Switch's desolate 2021 schedule badly needs some new titles. The system survived 2020 thanks to a mixture of Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Ring Fit Adventure becoming huge deals on social media. The 2020 holiday season was especially kind to Nintendo, but the company now needs a reason to keep these new customers around. Has the time finally come for news about the Breath of the Wild sequel, Metroid Prime 4, Bayonetta 3, or even the rumored Pokémon Diamond and Pearl remakes? We'll know for sure tomorrow.
The Nintendo Direct will take place on February 17, at 2 pm PT/5 pm ET/23 pm CET.
Source: Nintendo of America - Twitter