Rumored Nintendo Direct for mid-September to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros.

Rumors are circulating online about reports of a Nintendo Direct event being slated for mid-September 2025. SwitchForce first reported this news on X and could address the relatively sparse first-party game releases since the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch.

However, a firm Nintendo Direct announcement date has not been confirmed or announced so far by Nintendo. However, speculation is rife that an event could potentially be held on September 12 or altenatively, September 13th, which marks Super Mario Bros.’ 40th anniversary since its release in 1985. This has led to a buildup of rumors supporting the possibility of the unveiling of a new Mario game next month.

Anticipation is also at an all-time high for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which was first announced in 2017. The game has already received age ratings from the ESRB in the U.S and the South Korean classification board, which could mean that the game could finally get a release date. Earlier, Metroid Prime 4 was playable at the Gamescom 2025 event in Cologne, Germany, as an early hands-on demo. While leaks and rumors online are talking about last-minute development snags, Nintendo has reaffirmed the game’s late 2025 release window.

The rumored Direct Event arrives at the heels of Nintendo’s Gamescom presentation, where the company presented Kirby Air Riders, a sequel to the 2003 GameCube Kirby Air Ride, which is set for release on November 20, 2025, for $70.

However, numerous third-party titles, including EA Sports FC 26, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Cronos: The New Dawn, and Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, are also scheduled for a September release date, which does mean that Nintendo might not leverage footage of its first-party offerings in a way that could negatively affect sales during a release-heavy month.

Nintendo has historically announced a Direct event 24–48 hours in advance, meaning that an official announcement date could be September 10, 11, or 12 if the rumors hold to be true. 

The Nintendo Switch 2 launched a few months ago at the beginning of June 2025. While the handheld has a backlog of retro and Nintendo Switch 1 titles, the Switch 2’s first-party offerings were relatively limited from the onset.

However, Nintendo Switch 2 console owners have seen their playable game libraries swell considerably over time, with Donkey Kong Bananza, Drag x Drive, Mario Kart World, and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour available to them, while Kirby Air Riders, Splatoon Raiders, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and The Duskbloods are currently slated for a later release date.