The Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase’s Biggest Announcement…

Capping off July 2025 with a Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase felt like a fitting way to end the Switch 2's second month since release. While the new console has already received fantastic first-party Nintendo titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, what has been just as exciting are the third-party games released on the console so far, with titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Yakuza 0 Director's Cut showing off the Switch 2's hardware capabilities. Now Switch 2 owners have even more third-party games to look forward to after the recent Partner Showcase, but when they can expect to see some of these titles released is a blank yet to be filled in.

The July 2025 Partner Showcase may not have struck a chord with every fan, as strange titles like Chillin' by the Fire left some viewers scratching their heads. However, other surprising titles were a treat to see confirmed for a Switch 2 release, with games like Persona 3 Reload, Cronos: The New Dawn, and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero all coming with release dates attached. However, there remains a batch of confirmed Switch 2 third-party games that are still without, leaving some significant gaps in the console's line-up in the latter half of 2025.

All Games Featured in the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase

The July Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase event made it clear that Switch and Switch 2 players have a lot to look forward to in the next few months.

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By Ashely Claudino

Nintendo Switch 2 Has Several Confirmed Third-Party Games Missing Release Dates

Games like Elden Ring, Hades 2, and Hollow Knight: Silksong Were No-Shows at the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase

As is tradition for Nintendo Directs at this point, Hollow Knight: Silksong was absent once again despite the fact that Silksong fans can try a demo at Gamescom and the confirmation that it will be released by Holiday 2025. While the lack of Silksong is disappointing but not surprising, what made less sense were the no-shows from Hades 2 and Elden Ring, two games previously confirmed for the Switch 2 without solid release dates. Both of these games seemed primed for an appearance heading into this Partner Showcase, so their absence speaks volumes.

All three of these games have confirmed 2025 release windows, but without firm release dates, that window is closing fast. Hades 2 recently released patch 11 as the final update of early access before v1.0 releases, making it seem like the announcement of a release date was imminent. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition was one of the headlining third-party games from the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct back in April, so its lack of a cemented release date with only a few months left in the year also remains baffling. With all of these third-party games hanging in limbo, the most apparent news to come from this Nintendo Direct is that the back half of 2025 is still in flux.

Some of the Partner Showcase's Biggest Games Lacked Release Dates Too

Chillin' by the Fire – July 31, 2025
Apex Legends – Aug 5, 2025
Madden NFL 26 – Aug 14, 2025
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance – Aug 29, 2025
Star Wars Outlaws – Sept 4, 2025
Cronos: The New Dawn – Sept 5, 2025
EA Sports FC 26 – Sept 26, 2025
NBA Bounce – Sept 26, 2025
Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac – Sept 26, 2025
Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles – Sept 30
Borderlands 4 – Oct 3, 2025
Just Dance 2026 Edition – Oct 14, 2025
Persona 3 Reload – Oct 23, 2025
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted – Oct 23, 2025
Once Upon A Katamari – Oct 24, 2025
Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 – Nov 13, 2025
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero – Nov 14, 2025
Hello Kitty Island Adventure - Wheatflour Wonderland DLC – Fall 2025
Octopath Traveler 0 – Dec 4, 2025
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment – Winter 2025/26
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales – TBA 2026
Hela –TBA 2026
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection – TBA 2026

Aside from the games that didn't get an appearance whatsoever, not every game that was shown came with a release date either. Two of the most unexpected games announced were Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection and The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales that bookended the Direct. However, neither of these games have release dates beyond vague 2026 release windows. Two sizeable RPGs from Capcom and Square Enix seem like big draws for Switch 2 owners, but the lack of hard release dates for the titles takes some of the wind out of their sails.

While it was surprising to see Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment at the Partner Showcase given that Zelda is a first-party Nintendo IP, it was great to see more from Koei Tecmo's latest entry in the spin-off series after it was announced during the Switch 2 Direct in April. However, the game still hasn't committed to a release date beyond sometime this Winter. This window is a bit narrower than other games lacking a firm release date, but still leaves a concerning hole in Nintendo's 2025 release schedule with the year rapidly coming to a close.

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