Nintendo's September 2026 Direct ran for 45 minutes and delivered several confirmed titles, including a new 2D Metroid game, a 3D Kirby instalment due in 2027, and a fresh update for Mario Kart World. Despite this, the presentation left many fans disappointed, as several long-anticipated games and franchises failed to make an appearance, prompting speculation online about the state of Nintendo's Switch 2 line-up nearly two years into the console's life.

Among the notable absences was The Duskbloods, FromSoftware's vampire-themed multiplayer exclusive, which still carries a 2026 release window but received no update on a firm launch date, despite a recent network test. Nintendo also gave no news on a next-generation 3D Mario game, a new Luigi's Mansion entry from developer Next Level Games (whose last major release was in 2022), or a new mainline Animal Crossing title, the last of which arrived in 2020. Rumoured projects such as new Super Smash Bros. and Nintendogs games were likewise absent, fuelling fan frustration despite a separate Zelda anniversary stream the previous day that had included some major announcements.