The biggest announcements from Nintendo’s 2019 E3 Direct

Bringing the press conferences of E3 2019 to an end, Nintendo aired their 40-minute long Nintendo Direct and showed off lots of gameplay footage during their Treehouse Live streams. Announcing a Breath of the Wild sequel and confirming a rumour that seemed unlikely, Nintendo certainly did not disappoint.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A Nintendo Switch version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt had been rumoured and shut down almost immediately by many fans. However, during their E3 broadcast of Nintendo Direct, the company made it official and announced that CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be coming to Nintendo Switch this year.  Not only that, but the game will also include the two DLC expansions, Heart of Stone and Blood and Wine.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel

There were a few different Legend of Zelda announcements made during the E3 Nintendo Direct, but the biggest one by far was the news that a sequel to 2017’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is currently in development. No announcements regarding release were made but there was a trailer that showed Link and Zelda seemingly discovering something in a cave before an explosion of some sort can be seen at Hyrule Castle in the distance.

Cadence of Hyrule

The roguelike Cadence of Hyrule has been confirmed for Nintendo Switch for release on 13^th June. Made by the creators of Crypt of the NecroDancer, Cadence of Hyrule will use NecroDancer’s rhythm-based mechanics. Move around and attack in time with music and you’ll be rewarded, but failing to do so will see you punished. The game will feature 25 remixed classic tracks from the Legend of Zelda series and will allow you to play as Link, Zelda, or Cadence.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

A remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening was announced earlier this year and now has a release date of 20^th September. In the game, players can create their own custom-made dungeons that reap their own rewards. The game is available for pre-order now and has a number of different editions. In North America, the Dreamer edition includes a hardcover art book, and Europe will have the chance to get their hands on a limited-edition copy of the game that comes in an original Game Boy steelbook.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

One of the most anticipated games heading into E3 2019 was Animal Crossing for Nintendo Switch, and during Nintendo Direct there was a first look at the game and a new release date of 20^th March 2020. Animal Crossing: New Horizons will have players boarding the Nook Inc. ship which takes them to a deserted island to establish their own town. Nintendo also showed off some early gameplay and features on its Nintendo Treehouse livestream.

Luigi’s Mansion 3

Luigi’s Mansion 3 had a gameplay demo during Nintendo’s E3 Direct, showing off some story details and new combat techniques. Luigi and his friends get invited to stay at a hotel which is naturally more than meets the eye, and it doesn’t take long until things get spooky.  Using his Poltergust G-00 vacuum cleaner we see Luigi suck up ghosts, as well as use his new abilities, including the slam, suction shot, and bust to defeat all who stand in his way. Luigi’s gooey doppelganger from the 3DS remake of the original game, Gooigi, makes a return and can be summoned and controlled in either single or co-op mode. Luigi’s Mansion 3 will also feature an online and local cooperative multiplayer mode called Scare Scraper.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Fans of the Fire Emblem series have been waiting a long time for the series to return to a home console. After being first announced over two years ago and having its release date pushed back, Fire Emblem: Three Houses will finally be released on Nintendo Switch on 26^th July.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses will introduce the continent of Fódlan, which is comprised of three different nations. At Fódlan’s centre is the Church of Seiros, the location of the officer’s academy which is the game’s main setting. Players’ customisable character will be a professor at the Academy and will lead a band of students who have been divided into three houses based on what nation they’re from. The game will of course feature turn-based combat with life-or-death stakes and the ability to send battalions of troops to support individual warriors. When you’re not on the battlefield, in true Fire Emblem fashion, you will spend your time exploring the Academy and forming relationships with students, which will in turn improve their ability on the battlefield.

Other games announced during Nintendo’s E3 Direct include, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition S, Resident Evil 5 and 6, Daemon X Machina, and Astral Chain. Towards the end of the direct, right before the Breath of the Wild sequel was announced, Nintendo put together a demo of what they’ve got in store for the rest of the year. This included:

• Dead by Daylight – 24^th September
• Stranger Things 3: The Game  – 4^th July
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy – 3^rd September
• Just Dance 2020 – 5^th November
• New Super Lucky’s Tale – Autumn 2019
• Ni No Kuni Remake: Wrath of the White Witch – 20^th September
• Catan – 20^th June
• The Sinking City – Autumn 2019
• Alien: Isolation – 2019
• Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition – Winter 2019
• Dauntless – Winter 2019
• Wolfenstein: Youngblood – 26^th July
• The Elder Scrolls: Blades – Fall 2019