Nintendo Direct July 2025: Direct Partner Showcase Delivers Big Third-Party News!

Calling all Nintendo fans! Surprise! Out of the summer blue, Nintendo dropped a brand-new Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase today, July 31st, 2025. Tuning in felt like finding a hidden power-up – unexpected but totally welcome! If you missed the live stream buzzing with announcements, don’t sweat it. We’ve got the full rundown on every major reveal, release date, and exciting tidbit for your Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 .

What Was This Nintendo Direct All About?

• Partner Power: This wasn’t your typical Direct packed with Mario and Zelda. Nintendo clearly stated this 25-minute stream focused 100% on games from their “publishing partners” – meaning third-party developers. No first-party Nintendo surprises this time!

• Dual Console Love: The good news? The show covered exciting new titles and upgrades coming to BOTH the original Nintendo Switch and the newer Switch 2. Something for everyone!

• Quick and Punchy: True to their word, Nintendo packed the announcements into a tight roughly 25-minute presentation, keeping the energy high.

Major Game Announcements & Release Dates (Get Your Calendars Ready!)

The Direct delivered a solid lineup of upcoming games. Here are the biggest highlights with their launch dates:

• Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2: August 5th, 2025. Jump back into the anime phenomenon! Relive epic story arcs, battle demons solo or online, and enjoy save data bonuses if you played the first game.

• GRADIUS ORIGINS: August 7th, 2025. Classic side-scrolling shoot-em-up action returns! This collection packs a massive 18 versions across seven arcade titles. Plus, it includes the brand-new SALAMANDER III! Features like save states and rewind make it perfect for modern players.

• EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26: August 14th, 2025 (Switch 2). Take the field on Switch 2! Promises next-level coaching, authentic QB action, and explosive gameplay powered by years of NFL data.

• Drag x Drive: August 14th, 2025 (Switch 2). This one’s wild! A new generation of 3-on-3 sports where you hold each Joy-Con 2 controller like a mouse to control your wheels. Flick your wrist to shoot! Team up or battle others online.

• STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar: August 27th, 2025. Revive the famous bazaar in Zephyr Town! Farm, raise animals, set up your market stall, and build relationships (maybe even find romance!) in this charming life sim.

• Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World: August 28th, 2025 (Switch 2). Kirby’s fantastic 3D adventure gets a Switch 2 glow-up! This edition includes the brand-new “Star-Crossed World” expansion. After a meteor strike, Kirby uses new Mouthful Modes to explore uncharted territory. Important: This is Switch 2 only. Original Switch owners can buy an upgrade pack.

• SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance: August 29th, 2025. The legendary ninja Joe Musashi is back! This fresh take is a hand-drawn 2D action platformer. Expect unique combat moves, vast ninja arsenals, and secrets to uncover.

Here’s a quick table of the key August releases:

Rumors, Hopes, and the Games That Weren’t (This Time)

Like any Nintendo Direct, the hype train was full of rumors beforehand. Here’s what was buzzing and what actually happened:

• The “Big Two” Missing in Action: Despite massive fan hope (and some developer teasing!), there was no sign of Hollow Knight: Silksong or Hades 2 in this showcase. Silksong’s recent Gamescom playable demo news might mean its reveal is saved for closer to that event or an Xbox showcase. Hades 2’s accidental Steam achievement update fueled speculation, but it didn’t materialize here.

• Datamine Dreams: Renowned leaker Billbil-kun predicted reveals for titles like “Octopath Traveler 0?” and Borderlands. While these weren’t explicitly shown in the results covered, the fast pace of the Direct means surprises could still be lurking!

• The “Game Card Direct”? Some online chatter cynically dubbed this the “game card Direct,” referencing recent controversy around Nintendo’s virtual game card system that restricts playing games across multiple Switch consoles. This seemed more like fan commentary bubbling up during the stream rather than an official focus.

• First-Party? Nope! As clearly stated upfront, don’t go looking for news on Metroid Prime, Pokémon Legends Z-A, or the next Mario here. Those will likely get their own spotlight later.

Why This Direct Matters: Third-Party Power is Growing!

This July Partner Showcase, though unexpected, sends a clear message: Nintendo is serious about third-party support, especially for the Switch 2. Seeing major franchises like Madden NFL, Demon Slayer, and GRADIUS alongside innovative new IPs like Drag x Drive and gorgeous revivals like SHINOBI shows developers are investing in Nintendo’s platforms.

The inclusion of significant Switch 2 upgrades (like the enhanced Kirby package) also highlights the value of the newer hardware for players wanting the best possible experience. It builds a bridge between the massive Switch 1 user base and the growing Switch 2 ecosystem.

Conclusion:

While there are announcements of some Directs, the July 2025 Partner Showcase delivered exactly what it promised: 25 minutes of focused, exciting third-party news for Nintendo fans. Packed with games hitting shelves very soon (like, next month soon!), it gave players plenty of concrete reasons to be excited for the rest of the summer and beyond. The mix of beloved franchises, new concepts, and Switch 2 enhancements proves there’s always something new to discover on Nintendo platforms.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to go pre-order some of these August gems! What game are you most excited about?