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The latest Nintendo Direct–the first full one in more than a year–will be streamed today, February 17. The stream will, according to Nintendo itself, focus on upcoming Switch games as well as more news related to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. This presentation will be very long, lasting around 50 minutes instead of the 15-20 minutes we’ve seen from the “mini” Direct events. It’s the first such event from Nintendo since September 2019, so you won’t want to miss it. [Update: The presentation is over, and you can check out all the Nintendo Direct news in our recap.]
Nintendo did not provide any further details around what to expect, only saying it would feature “information focused on available games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and games coming to Nintendo Switch in the first half of 2021.” With Smash, it’s safe to assume a new fighter will be revealed, as there are still several more characters to come as part of Fighters Pass 2.
Here’s how to watch the Nintendo Direct broadcasting today, Wednesday, February 17.
Nintendo Direct February 17: How To Watch
When: Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ETWhere: YouTube
The February 17 Nintendo Direct event takes place at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET. You can watch the Direct as it airs through the YouTube embed below.
International Start Times
US West Coast: 2 PM PTUS East Coast: 5 PM ETUK: 10 PM GMTSydney, AU: 9 AM AET (Feb. 18)
Predictions And What To Expect
We could hear about other games besides Smash during the upcoming Nintendo Direct. These could include titles like Bravely Default 2, New Pokemon Snap, and Monster Hunter Rise, all of which are scheduled to release in the first half of 2021. Other announced Switch games, albeit without release dates, include Shin Megami Tensei V, Bayonetta 3, and Metroid Prime 4. Notably, this year marks the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda’s release in Japan, so it’s possible that some kind of Zelda-centric news will be revealed. A sequel to Breath of the Wild is known to be in the works, but it’s been quite some time since we got a glimpse of it. The first reveal only really confirmed that the game would be a sequel to Breath of the Wild and sport the same art style. However, because it looks to be running on the same engine, it’s possible it could also have a shorter development time.
Nintendo provided no indication that there would be hardware news at the event, but given the super-sized nature of the event, enthusiastic fans will no doubt get their hopes up for some kind of announcement. Reports have continued to persist that Nintendo will release a so-called Switch Pro that features enhanced hardware. For its part, Nintendo says it won’t release a new Switch model this year. This March marks the four-year anniversary of the console’s release. By this point, the Wii U was already reaching the end of its life.
