For the past few weeks, the media has been speculating on when exactly the first Nintendo Direct of 2024 would take place. There were some pretty solid guess-timations that it would have taken place last week. However, it was rumored to have been held back due to Xbox’s “emergency” podcast to address the state of Xbox games after the internet went a bit crazy. This makes more sense now after yesterday’s Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, which mentioned two games from Xbox Games Studios coming to Nintendo Switch this year.

With the first Nintendo Direct (Partner Showcase) out of the way, we have now seen something from each of the big three platforms (Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo). Each company has their own, unique style of digital presentation. When it comes to the content though, they each started this year off with the same sort of strategy — Here’s some more information on some games you already knew about, along with a few brand new games to get excited about.

While Xbox and PlayStation focused on mostly first-party games, Nintendo started the year with a Partner Direct, featuring games developed and published by NON-tendo Partners.

Let’s go over my TOP FIVE favorite announcements from yesterday’s Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase.

1 | XBOX GAMES STUDIOS IS HERE!

I remember that feeling when I first played Ori and the Will of the Wisps on my Nintendo Switch after seeing the “Xbox Game Studios” Logo on the screen of my Nintendo console. It felt a bit peculiar, but in a good way. I don’t expect the AAA Xbox Games on Nintendo Switch any time soon — simply because I don’t think the Switch can handle something like Starfield. I am happy to see their smaller, indie titles make their way over. Games that I’m waiting to play in handheld mode.

Two games from Xbox Game Studios were announced to be coming to the Switch. Grounded, is coming April 16, 2024, and Pentiment should be there some time today.

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*Side Quest: The one game I was hoping for, and have been waiting to play on my Nintendo Switch
was not shown in the showcase, Hi-Fi Rush. I still have hope. Perhaps it just isn’t quite ready yet.
I played a bit of Hi-Fi Rush on my almost 15 year old PC, and it ran smoothly.
Which means it should work great in handheld mode on the Nintendo Switch.

*Later in the day, Bethesda Softworks announced that Hi-Fi RUSH will make it’s way onto PlayStation 5 next month.

2 | EPIC MICKEY IS BACK

As a lover of all things Disney, I have always wanted to play Epic Mickey, which was originally released for the Wii. I know I played a small chunk of the sequel, but I’m very excited to give the new “Rebrushed” version a try. Here’s hoping this will inspire Disney Games to create more Epic Mickey games in the future, or even go for something bold like this with a different character, maybe Legendary Donald or Magnificent Goofy or something completely different.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is coming to the Nintendo Switch later this year.

3 | SHADOW DROPS

There were a couple of “shadow drops” (out today) during the presentation, which is always a plus!

The biggest one for me was Penny’s Big Breakaway. I’ve been waiting to see what the team behind Sonic Mania can do with their own original characters and story. I’m also glad that this is a different style of game, a 3D platformer.

Another shadow drop I’m sort of interested in is Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! Mainly due to former Nintendo employees Kit and Krysta talking about this one on their predictions podcast. I’m not even sure what this game is, I just know it was a big hit on mobile and now it’s on the Nintendo Switch.

Although I rarely get into the Nintendo Switch Online “virtual console” games, it’s great to see some Rareware titles showing up. I’m hoping this means we’ll see some new iterations of some of these big franchises, including Killer Instinct and Battletoads.

4 | UPDATES & RELEASE DATES

There were a few anticipated games that we finally have a solid release date after the presentation.

The first game was Pepper Grinder (Devolver Digital). This is the game that I forgot about because it had mashed together with GUNBRELLA in my mind, which I recently played.

There’s a demo available right now, but the game will be out on my birthday, March 28, 2024.

I’ve had a great time with the two recent South Park games from Ubisoft, The Stick of Truth and The Fractured, but Whole. This new game South Park: Snow Day by THQ Nordic looks a bit different. THQ Nordic has burned me in the past with a few releases, but I’m still willing to give this a try, because it’s South Park. Will it be a good time? We’ll find out on March 26th, 2024.

The third game I’m mentioning here is one I’m not too sure about for myself. I’ve always liked the idea of the punishingly difficult Souls-like genre, but I have also quit any of these games that I have tried early on
— mainly because I’m terrible at them.

I may be wrong, but Another Crab’s Treasure looks like a less serious version of this style of game. I’m hoping it will be a nice entry point into the genre when it comes out on April 25th, 2024.

5 | NEW ENDLESS OCEAN

The previous Endless Ocean game was released on the Wii. I’m not sure yet if this game is for me or not, but I do like the idea of scuba diving and exploring sea life with friends, strangers, or completely by yourself.

When it comes to a nice, big relaxing game I can either become entranced by it, or not care at all.
This could be the next Animal Crossing for many of us, but still a very different kind of game.

We’ll find out if Endless Ocean Luminous is for me on May 2, 2024.

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There were plenty of other announcements made during this 20+ minute showcase.
If you missed out, you can watch it in its entirety right here:

What are you most excited about that’s coming to the Nintendo Switch from this showcase?
What else do you want to see on the Nintendo Switch before we see the next iteration?
Let us know in the comments below…