Switch 2 Direct nears

Reports in Germany and Spain point to Nintendo’s first general Nintendo Direct of 2026 arriving soon, with a heavier focus on new Switch 2 software than the February partner showcase had. (nordbayern.de, hobbyconsolas.com) Nintendo’s last Direct was a Partner Showcase on February 5, 2026, and Nintendo’s official page said it would run “roughly 30 minutes” and cover upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch games. Nintendo’s last hardware-focused broadcast before that was the April 2, 2025 Switch 2 Direct. (nintendo.com, nintendo.com) One concrete sign of Nintendo’s near-term lineup is Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, which Nintendo’s store lists for May 21, 2026 as a Switch 2 exclusive. The store page says the game supports TV, tabletop, and handheld play and has an estimated file size of 20.6 gigabytes. (nintendo.com) Another is Rhythm Heaven Groove, which IGN reported is now up for physical preorder at select retailers for $39.99 and launches July 2, 2026. Nintendo’s own store page lists the same July 2, 2026 release date and says the game is for Nintendo Switch, with Switch 2 compatibility to be tested later. (ign.com, nintendo.com) That leaves Nintendo with a visible gap between the May release of Yoshi and the July release of Rhythm Heaven Groove, alongside a Switch 2 install base that is still early in its first full year. A general Direct in late April or early May would fit Nintendo’s usual pattern of using broadcasts to lock in release dates and fill out the next few months of software. (nintendo.com, nintendo.com, nordbayern.de) Nintendo has already used 2026 presentations to seed that calendar. Its February 5 news post highlighted Switch 2 debuts including Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition, Resident Evil Requiem, PRAGMATA, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. (nintendo.com) The Yoshi timing also matters because Nintendo has started differentiating Switch 2 pricing between formats. Coverage around the game’s store listing showed a $69.99 physical edition and a $59.99 digital edition in the United States, a split that has drawn close attention from fans tracking Nintendo’s first-party plans for the new system. (nintendolife.com) For now, Nintendo has not posted an official announcement for a new general Direct on its U.S. Direct archive or news pages. Until that changes, the strongest public signals are the release dates already attached to Yoshi and Rhythm Heaven Groove — and the expectation that Nintendo will want a bigger Switch 2 showcase before both games arrive. (nintendo.com, nintendo.com, nintendo.com)