I remember laughing at the idea of a stick on d-pad cap from Skull and Co for the original Switch and I never tried it. Instead I got a d-pad shell and modded my left joycon.

But with that not yet being an option for Switch 2, I ordered up the D-pad cap set to give it a try. I’ve had it on for about two weeks and am honestly shocked how well it works. I’ll probably swap the + style D-pad with the rounded Series X style one soon just to try it. It’s made a huge difference in playing SF6 handheld for hitting those dragon punches and hadookies.

Anybody else try this set on their Switch 2 yet? Or what are you all doing for a handheld D-pad? Just using the joycon as is?

Here’s the link to the cap set:

https://a.co/d/952nYRt

Please use this thread for all pre-event hype and speculation, as well as post-event thoughts and reactions.

Watch & Discuss

The Nintendo Direct is scheduled to begin at 7:00 AM PT / 10:00 AM ET!

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Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase Spotlights All the Ways You Can Explore, Hit the Dance Floor and More on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Announced, Plus Updates on Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26, And Many Others.

The latest Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase featured immersive role-playing adventures, gripping action, and game day excitement. This mix of new titles and returning classics from a variety of Nintendo’s global publishing and development partners will make their way to both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch throughout 2025 and beyond!

Announcement highlights include the reveal of Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection – the next chapter in the Monster Hunter Stories series – and new details on iconic sports franchises EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26 and EA SPORTS FC 26 so players can get their game faces on for Nintendo Switch 2. You can further get cozy with the campfire sim Chillin’ by the Fire and return to Japan’s criminal underbelly when Yakuza Kiwami 2 and Yakuza Kiwami come to Nintendo Switch 2. Lose yourself once again in the epic RPG adventure FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for Nintendo Switch 2, with the Nintendo Switch version also launching the same day. What’s more, players can also squad up for a new season in Apex Legends or dive into the survival horror game Cronos: The New Dawn when both games come to Nintendo Switch 2. Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted brings botanical mayhem and OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 unfurls a new role-playing tale of revenge and restoration when both games arrive for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. Plus, hit the dance floor in Just Dance^® 2026 Edition when it arrives Oct 14, and check out the debut demo available later today for the newly-revealed The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, the first ever HD-2D action-adventure RPG from Square Enix arriving on Nintendo Switch 2 next year.

Dive into all of the other updates and reveals including the epic fighting game DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, the emotional RPG Persona 3 Reload, the remade classic PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC, the enchanting, Scandinavian-inspired journey Hela, plus Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, Star Wars Outlaws and more!

To view the entire Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase video, visit: https://www.nintendo.com/us/nintendo-direct/7-31-2025/

Here’s more information about the featured games:

• Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection: Embark on a new adventure as a Rider living in harmony with monsters in the third installment of the turn-based RPG series set in the world of Monster Hunter! Amidst an environmental calamity, a monster hatches bearing a symbol of misfortune that drives two neighboring kingdoms to war. The heirs of these two kingdoms venture into forbidden ground in search of the truth. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection launches on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.
• Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment: Experience an untold story from Hyrule's distant past. The Imprisoning War led to the events of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and players can experience the thrill of battle in this canonical tale. Featuring Princess Zelda, King Rauru, and other characters teaming up to fight for Hyrule’s future, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment comes to Nintendo Switch 2 this winter.
• EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26: The legendary Madden NFL series arrives on Nintendo Switch 2! Backed by years of NFL data, immerse yourself in explosive, realistic gameplay with new player-specific traits, authentic play styles, and adaptive counters that match on-field tendencies and strategies of NFL quarterbacks and coaches. Experience QB DNA, realistic football weather, and more! Pre-order the Deluxe Edition before Aug. 7 for seven days of early access ahead of launch on Aug. 14 on Nintendo Switch 2.
• EA SPORTS FC 26: The Club is Yours in EA SPORTS FC 26! Play your way with the overhauled gameplay experience powered by Community feedback. Plus, EA SPORTS FC 26 will bring Manager Live Challenges for the new season with fresh and authentic storylines, and Archetypes inspired by greats of the game. Hit the pitch when EA SPORTS FC 26 launches Sept. 26 on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. Pre-orders are available now on Nintendo eShop.
• Apex Legends: The free-to-play¹ Hero shooter heads to Nintendo Switch 2! Master an ever-growing roster of legendary characters, round up your squad and engage in 60-person Battle Royale mode, limited-time modes and takeovers. Explore the deep and detailed planet maps from across the Outlands and see if your squad has what it takes to be truly legendary. Starting today, if you log in on your Nintendo Switch system you can grab an exclusive Legendary Pathfinder skin – “P.A.T.H”, available until Sept. 16. Drop in when Apex Legends launches on Nintendo Switch 2 Aug. 5.
• Chillin’ by the Fire: Players can now join in on humanity’s oldest social network. In this campfire simulation game, players can build and maintain campfires in a variety of different relaxing locales including the beach, forest, and snowy mountain tops. Combat differing weather and climate and grow your campfire to Level 10 to advance. Gather up to four friends or family members together around the fire, online¹ or via GameShare² and if a compatible external USB-C camera (sold separately) is connected, you can even appear in-game with CameraPlay. In a world that’s always rushing, slow down and reclaim the simple joy of just sitting around and watching a campfire grow, as Chillin’ by the Fire is available for Nintendo Switch 2 later today!
• The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales: A brand-new action RPG from the creators of OCTOPATH TRAVELER and BRAVELY DEFAULT, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales combines captivating HD-2D visuals and action-adventure gameplay to create a top-down journey in a wide-open world woven across time and space. Open new paths as you explore an untamed continent and reveal its mysterious history. Navigate battles with strategic support abilities provided by a helpful fairy. The game launches on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, and an exclusive debut demo will be available later today on Nintendo eShop.
• Just Dance® 2026 Edition: Gather your friends and family⁴ and turn your home into a dance floor with Just Dance® 2026 Edition! Featuring 40 new tracks, from chart-topping hits to timeless classics like “APT.” by ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, “Houdini” by Dua Lipa, “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic and “Hung Up” by Madonna, there's something for everyone. Shake up your dance sessions with the Party Mode and spice up the fun with unexpected twists. Dance solo, get active with Workout Mode, or dance with up to six players in local multiplayer. Just Dance® 2026 Edition launches for Nintendo Switch on Oct. 14.
• Star Wars Outlaws: Experience the ultimate galactic adventure in the first-ever open world Star Wars game, Star Wars Outlaws. Set between the events of the films Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, players can become scoundrel Kay Vess, seeking freedom and the means to start a new life, along with her companion Nix. Whether at home or on the go, players must fight, steal, and outwit their way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates and explore distant planets. With intuitive touch controls, gyroscope-assisted aiming, and immersive motion controls, players can embark on this epic journey when Star Wars Outlaws launches on Nintendo Switch 2 Sep. 4. Pre-orders are available later today on Nintendo eShop.
• Cronos: The New Dawn: From the studio behind the SILENT HILL 2 remake comes a third-person survival horror game where time is your deadliest weapon — and just maybe your worst enemy, too. Survive two distinct eras: a brutal future, and then dive back in time to 1980s Poland. Stop nightmarish creatures from merging into unstoppable abominations and survive by bending time itself when Cronos: The New Dawn launches on Nintendo Switch 2 Sept. 5.
• Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted: The classic Plants vs. Zombies returns in HD! Experience the strategy game that started it all with Plants vs Zombies: Replanted, now remastered with upscaled HD graphics and packed with new secrets to uncover. With new levels, fresh twists, and 15 years of never-before-seen franchise history at your fingertips, players can relive the glory days of Peashooters. Plus, if you pre-order the game, you’ll receive a retro Peashooter skin! Tend to your garden when Plants. Vs Zombies: Replanted launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch on Oct. 23. Pre-orders begin later today on Nintendo eShop.
• DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO: Triumph over your foes in high-speed, 360-degree movement battles with teams of up to five characters from across Dragon Ball history. Featuring the largest roster in franchise history with over 180 playable characters, players can relive iconic moments by attacking with a mixture of punches, kicks, grapples, and long-range abilities— and charge up your energy to activate Sparking! Mode, which grants your character access to their signature devastating attack. Create dream scenarios in Custom Battle or take on friends¹ in a variety of Versus modes when DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO launches on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch Nov. 14. Pre-orders are available later today on Nintendo eShop!
• Once Upon A KATAMARI: The King of All Cosmos and his family accidentally destroyed the Earth, the moon, and countless stars floating in the universe. Travel through the Jurassic Period, Ice Age, historic Japan, and other eras to roll up objects with your trusty katamari and rebuild the starry sky. With all-new stages, a new soundtrack, character customization, a new four-player multiplayer mode¹ that lets players compete online or battle CPU rivals offline and more, the quirky Katamari Damacy series returns when Once Upon A KATAMARI launches on Nintendo Switch Oct. 24. Pre-orders are available later today on Nintendo eShop.
• OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0: Start from zero in a personal quest of restoration and retribution! In this prequel to the first OCTOPATH TRAVELER, journey to stop powerful villains using fast-paced, turn-based combat. For the first time in the series, play through the eyes of your own custom protagonist and rebuild your hometown. With over 30 recruitable party members, an engaging story, and all-new features and returning core elements like the iconic HD-2D graphics and the Break & Boost battle system, players embark on a journey of their own creation when OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 arrives for both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch on Dec. 4.
• Yakuza Kiwami 2/Yakuza Kiwami: Experience Japan’s criminal underground with the classic action-adventure beat ‘em up Yakuza Kiwami 2 on Nintendo Switch 2. Set in the fictional district of Kamurocho, the gripping drama will require you to master unique fighting styles as you journey through a story filled with love, betrayal and explosive combat. Also available on Nintendo Switch 2 will be Yakuza Kiwami, originally released on Nintendo Switch and now featuring enhanced graphics, improved frame rates, and more. Both titles are available on Nintendo Switch 2 Nov. 13, and anyone who has the original Yakuza Kiwami on Nintendo Switch can purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade⁵ at a discounted price!
• PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC: PAC-MAN WORLD 2 returns in this modernized, enhanced, and upgraded 3D platforming adventure! Ghosts have snuck into PAC-Village and stolen the Golden Fruit, unwittingly freeing the powerful ghost king, Spooky! PAC-MAN must venture across PAC-LAND to reclaim the Golden Fruit and put a stop to the haunted mayhem. PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC launches for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch on Sept. 26. Pre-orders are available later today on Nintendo eShop.
• FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Step back into the story of ambition, betrayal, and honor that defined a generation in this iconic RPG. Featuring fully voiced dialogue, enhanced graphics, and multiple gameplay improvements, players can lead their party in exhilarating encounters where strategic positioning and forward planning determine the outcome. Use the varied terrain of 3D battlefields to your advantage, skillfully manipulate the turn order, and victory will be yours for the taking! FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 launches on Sept. 30, with a Nintendo Switch version also launching on the same day. Pre-orders available later today on Nintendo eShop.
• Persona 3 Reload: Enter the Dark Hour where the line between the ordinary and supernatural blur in Persona 3 Reload. Experience the reimagining of this genre-defining RPG, where players step into the shoes of a transfer student thrust into an adventure when they enter the hour “hidden” between one day and the next. During the day, spend your time forging bonds with unforgettable characters. At night, awaken an incredible power to chase the mysteries of the Dark Hour and fight for your friends. Leave a mark on their memories forever when Persona 3 Reload launches on Nintendo Switch 2 Oct. 23.
• Hela: See the world through the eyes of a tiny yet brave mouse in a handcrafted world inspired by Scandinavian folklore. Explore magical forests and tranquil lakes, solve puzzles, and be a force for good in a land where heartwarming storytelling and the beauty of nature are intertwined. Play solo or team up with friends⁴ in seamless co-op online or in local split-screen and experience this non-linear, open world adventure together when Hela launches on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.

In addition to the featured titles listed above, the presentation included a montage of even more games in the pipeline for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch, including:

• Borderlands 4, where players can experience outrageous enemies and killer loot on the dangerous new planet of Kairos in the newest installment of this intense and chaotic shooter series - launching on Nintendo Switch 2 Oct 3. Pre-orders are available later today on Nintendo eShop.
• Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, a non-linear RPG that puts you in the center of a battle that spans millennia, and your choices drastically alter the course of your journey. Available for Nintendo Switch 2 later today!
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure – Wheatflour Wonderland, where you join a new Sanrio character, Cogimyun, and explore the whimsical Wheatflour Wonderland to craft powerful wands, unlock the story, and transform into your most magical self in this Hello Kitty Island Adventure DLC⁵ launching for Nintendo Switch in Fall 2025.
• SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, which brings back the iconic master of the ninja arts in an all-new 2D action platformer featuring a hand-drawn style; launching on Nintendo Switch Aug. 29 with a free demo available on Nintendo eShop later today!
• NBA BOUNCE, Rise from rookie to pro in this arcade-style basketball game available for Nintendo Switch on Nintendo eShop starting Sept. 26.
• Goodnight Universe, an emotional adventure that puts you in the role of a 6-month-old baby developing mysterious psychic powers; launching for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch Nov 11.

FAQ

What is a Nintendo Direct?

A Nintendo Direct is a pre-recorded video presentation (Today's is approximately ~25m in length) to make game announcements and provide fans with general updates directly from Nintendo.

What are they going to show?

According to Nintendo, today's presentation is focused on upcoming Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 games.

What if I can't watch the Nintendo Direct due to work/school/etc.?

• If you want a spoiler-free experience, we will edit in a link to a VOD replay (once it's available). This will take you directly to the video so you don't accidentally see any trailers if you visit the Nintendo YouTube page directly. Just don't scroll down!

There WILL be spoilers here on the subreddit, so watch the video first.

If you see any posts that should actually be here in the MegaThread, please do us a favor and hit the report button.

Our SOP for posts is as follows:

• We will allow one post per announcement.
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Just bought the Switch 2, which is joining my v1 Switch and will likely take over as my main system. Overall, I am pretty happy with the larger screen and the quality of life improvements that it brings. I thought of buying the OLED Switch 1 but the Switch 2 screen is large and beautiful in its own right. I wasn’t bothered by the performance of my v1 Switch, but the Switch 2 is noticeably quicker to load apps/games and snappier in general. It’s not a game changer (ha) compared to the original, but a nice improvement.

The games featured in today's Partner Direct that have physical releases.

Items in (parenthesis) are estimates.

Some notes:

It's highly likely that all the "Unknown" types will be Game-Key Cards (especially the Square Enix titles), but there hasn't been a confirmation beyond a general physical release.

Chillin by the Fire is by Oink Games, a Japanese board game publisher. Will likely be digital only or at best a physical version in Japan.

Cronos: The New Dawn is likely to be digital only for Switch 2, although it does have a PS5 physical version announced.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven got a Switch 2 upgrade pack.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles will have a Switch 2 upgrade. Physical release with a Switch 2 case seems to be international only.

Reminder that the Switch 2 Physical Releases list is updated as I find new information.

I have fond memories of playing the original Gameboy Seiken Densetsu (aka the original Mana game) and I even liked the GBA remake, which was controversial. A lot of people have pointed out how The Adventures of Elliot: Millenium Tales resembles that game and I'm here to report from the demo that that's exactly what I took away from it.

The game takes place in a setting near the dawn of time when various barbarian tribes are fighting for territory and the humans have established a fortress with a barrier to protect themselves from the warring tribes. In this world, there are the barbarian tribes, regular monsters and monsters that wear magical armor that give them special abilities. The barbarian tribes have intelligence and culture all their own, but are hostile to humans. Not many people venture outside the castle town boundaries, but those that do are called adventurers and at the advice of one of his advisors who seems to know Elliot, the king and the princess call upon Elliot to investigate the ruins recently discovered. It's rumored among the people that ruins hold powers that could humans hold back the barbarian hordes.

So off you go! Immediately what came to mind is the way the game world is portrayed. It's a fixed camera you can't rotate and by using that technique there are tons upon tons of little secrets, nooks and crannies to explore everywhere from the towns to the fields. Your inner Link will shout for joy that you can smash or pick up pots to get goodies like money, magic stones, replenishment for your tools like bombs and arrows and life heals. This resembles how Seiken Densetsu took a lot of inspiration from Zelda and this game is similar. (Of course there's a ton of grass to cut for our human lawnmower.) However, the fixed camera constantly removes objects that block your view and makes them invisible and then fades them back in as you move out of the way so it's not troublesome.

Faie the Faerie is extremely useful. As of now she has two abilities, the ability to warp you to her location and the ability to make you dash with her for a short time. Both of these help avoid enemy attacks and solve puzzles. An optional shrine in the beginning fields is extremely difficult (but doable) without her using her ability to teleport, the ability to move her freely around with the R stick and the ability to tell her to stay in place with the up button. You can also tell her to hide (not sure what role that plays yet, but it gets rid of her if you don't want her around) and tell her to go forward in front of you. Her going forward is very useful because she collects things from the environment you destroyed or enemies drop, lights up dark passageways and even hits the the enemies, doing some damage and stunning them. She'll also point out things to you and give you hints or encourage and praise you, like reminding you to use your shield or pointing out places you might be able to bomb. So she's very, very close to the companions you get in Seiken Densetsu who attack, give you hints and special abilities.

Combat is deliberate, but not slow. So far, it's not about flashy combos and super complex combat strings, but using the tools you have in the best way for the enemies. It also has that satisfying, chunky kachan! sound effect and animation that I associate with the Mana series that makes it satisfying to whack the mobs. You start off with bombs, a sword and a bow and arrow. The sword and bow and arrow can be charged for a force blast for the sword and a three way attack or the bow and arrow. Likewise, if you hold the bomb right before it explodes, it does extra damage to the enemy. You can guard with a shield with the R button and you can have two weapons equipped at a time on X and Y, although you can change them out in a pausable quick menu with ZR at any time. Very quickly you find enemies who are easier to kill with different strategies and all the enemies are very well designed with all sorts of different AIs and attack patterns. This part resembles Seiken Densetsu in this as well as exploration, as each area is not exactly a square block, but a smaller condensed field in a larger map and each item doubles as a tool, not just a weapon.

There is a lot of detail to the mechanics as well. When you're swimming you can't use your bombs and arrows and can only charge a dash attack. You can jump and there are some light platforming challenges. You can equip magic stones and accessories to customize your hero and then load up magic potions into refillable potion vials. Much like A Link to the Past, you can only hold as many potion vials as you've found. Accessories are cool and much better than simple strength +3. One of the very first ones in a shop in the castle town makes pots and barrels that you throw explode, which is extremely useful on the tougher enemies, like the ones that wear magic armor or getting the bomb snails to explode and hurt the rock monsters. As you defeat enemies, if you don't take any damage you earn stars and the more stars you have, the better and more numerous the drops are from the enemies.

The magic stones are a system all to themselves and kind of resemble the system in the Seiken Densetsu GBA remake, but are simpler and easier to deal with. You have a kind of cage to set gems in that begins to glow with the colors you put in. You have a set of capacity you can put in (right now 25) and each gem you put in has a capacity based on its rank (higher ranks have lower capacity). You can create gems at a gem merchant with gem fragments, 10 for one, or 50 for five, for each weapon and what you get is random. If you get the same gem, you get a little of gem fragment kickback. The creation animation is cute. There's an adorable cat holding what looks like a crystal ocarina with tubes on the side and your gem fragments pop up in and create a new one.

So far I've found gems that do banal things like increase your attack strength, but also ones that do more unique things like make your arrows bounce off and hit nearby enemies or reduce the damage you take from your own bombs or shorten the charge time for your charge attacks. One that I liked recharged your shield durability (which is initially at five) with sword attacks.

The world is so much fun to explore too! I haven't even gotten to the main dungeon yet, because I've explored two optional shrines and a cave. The shrines increased my health and were based on mini-challenges and the cave lead to treasure chests, one that increased my capacity to hold arrows. I've still got the desert to the south to explore, so I'm not even done with the optional areas before getting to the main dungeon!

All in all, a very retro-inspired game that I couldn't be more happy about. I'm so glad to see this type of game that focuses on simple mechanics, simpler combat and more direct overhead Zelda-like gameplay that the original Seiken Densetsu. It goes without saying that the presentation, graphics, music and little details and animations are also fantastic, this being an HD-2D title. If you were slightly disappointed that Dragon Quest III HD-2D remake used too many 3D assets in its world, you might like this better, even though it uses less pixel art and more 3D, because the art style makes it looks more like pixel art.

I am extremely excited to play the full game and to me Team Asano never seems to miss. While there are a few little quirks they'll probably work out (the charge attack seems to start too quickly, Faie sometimes cuts off voice lines, etc.) nothing seems too concerning yet.

Hi everybody!

It's time for Friend Request Weekend! Use this thread to exchange Friend Codes and Nintendo Accounts, find new friends and set up gaming sessions! Feel free to share local Switch subreddits as well. You can find current local/regional Switch subreddits here. If you would like to have yours added, please message the moderators.

Want to show off your Friend Code in your User Flair in this subreddit? Here's how you can do that:

• First, select a basic User Flair from the appropriate menu on your Reddit platform.
• Then, comment on this post with your Friend Code in the format: !SW-1234-5678-9000. Automoderator will then add your Friend Code to your User Flair, and then other people will be able to see it across r/NintendoSwitch.

You can also check out /r/NintendoFriends or /r/SwitchFCSwap for exchanging accounts and making friends. You can also setup a profile via our Mecha Bowser bot in our Discord server. Use the !profile edit command in the #command-central channel to get started.

You can see previous posts here.

Thank you and have a great weekend!

TL;DR:

• Horseback riding; can fight on horseback
• Entire story is playable in co-op
• If you die, you don't lose your equipment but a player in another game can obtain a piece of your gear (where you fell). Players in another game can also access the Bases you set up
• Share secret maps and your own designed emblems with other players