Nintendo squeezed a full winter Switch 2 software Direct into roughly 45 minutes, then rolled straight into a Nintendo Treehouse: Live session of about 110 minutes. Coming a day after the Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct, the 9 September show left Ocarina of Time remake talk aside and instead dated Monster Hunter Wilds for Switch 2, unveiled Metroid Ravenous, closed on a new 3D Kirby, and flooded the calendar with ports, editions and same-day downloads.
Context only: Tuesday’s Zelda Direct locked the The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for 5 November 2026 on Switch 2, with anniversary hardware on 29 October and a live-action film simply titled The Legend of Zelda for 30 April 2027. This roundup does not rehash that show.
Nintendo Direct September 2026 headliners: Metroid Ravenous, Monster Hunter Wilds, Kirby
The show’s loudest first-party swing was Metroid Ravenous, a new side-scrolling Metroidvania exclusive to Switch 2 on 28 January 2027. Trailer narration has Samus feeding on enemies to survive after a brutal ambush — “it’s eat or be eaten,” in Nintendo’s own framing. A Special Edition with SteelBook is planned, alongside new amiibo (Samus and Chozo Statue at launch; a Metroid Suit Samus amiibo with the Special Edition), per VGC’s write-up of the Direct reveal.
Monster Hunter Wilds finally got a Switch 2 date: 4 December 2026, with Capcom promising all future title updates for free and wireless local play. The Ascendance expansion is due in 2027. Capcom’s overview relayed by Gematsu also lists eShop pre-orders from 19 October, cross-play, and Ascendance arriving on Switch 2 at that expansion’s 2027 launch — keep those Capcom bullets attributed to Gematsu, as GamesRadar’s live blog was softer on them.
Closing the Direct, Kirby and the World Beyond arrived as a freely explorable 3D Kirby adventure for Switch 2 in Spring 2027, timed to the character’s 35th anniversary, with Nintendo teasing more anniversary news later.
Same-day drops: Mario Kart World, Meccha Chameleon, Crisis Core, Star Fox Adventures
Mario Kart World receives a free update today, adding 10 Super Mario Kart courses to VS Race plus two Knockout Tour rallies — Propeller Rally and Turnip Rally. Meccha Chameleon lands on Switch 2 later today. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is available on Switch 2 today, while Rare’s Star Fox Adventures joins GameCube Nintendo Classics for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass subscribers later today. Climbing game Cairn opened a free Switch 2 demo today ahead of an early 2027 launch.
Dated 2026 calendar: Fortune’s Weave to Layton
- 17 September: Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave (Switch 2).
- 18 September: LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Switch 2).
- 29 September: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered (Switch 2); Songs of the Past paid DLC in 2027. Same day: free Star Fox multiplayer update (four-player local battle, new stages, online teams) — 29 September.
- 16 October: Resident Evil 2 Deluxe (+DLC), Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4 Gold (+DLC) digitally on Switch 2.
- 22 October: Nintendo Switch Sports Resort (Switch 2); Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves digital on Switch 2.
- November: Disney Dreamlight Valley — The Keepsake Sea paid expansion.
- 12 November: Pikmin 4 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition with Dandori Academy.
- 3 December: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Heroes’ Vault; hero Shimmer).
- 4 December: Monster Hunter Wilds on Switch 2.
- 10 December: Professor Layton and the New World of Steam (PS5, Switch 2, Switch, PC).
- Late 2026: Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass Part 2.
2027 and beyond: Ravenous, Revelation, Persona, Kirby
Key 2027 dates from the Direct: Danganronpa 2×2 (14 January); Metroid Ravenous (28 January); Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (12 February); Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United and Yu-Gi-Oh! Tag Force GX (both 16 February); Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Definitive Edition (25 February — 60fps targets, full Expansion Pass content, tougher Calamity mode, Switch 1 digital discount and save transfer); Eternal Anima (4 March); Final Fantasy VII Revelation on 8 April (not “Resonance”); Persona 4 Revival on 20 May, with Persona 6 confirmed for Switch 2 undated; Kirby and the World Beyond and Mega Man: Dual Override in Spring 2027.
Undated 2027 buckets include Onyx: The Dark Grip (Bloober Team), Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Royal Edition, Metal Slug Ultimate Collection, Ondeh Ondeh: Kaya’s Tasty Tale, Stage Fright (Switch 2 and Switch; Eurogamer credits Ghost Town Games, GamesRadar named Hello Games — soft credit), and Yo-kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain (development only).
Remasters, editions and updates
Much of the runtime was editions and service layers — a denser remaster slate than everything announced at the June 2026 Nintendo Direct: Witcher 3 Remastered, Age of Calamity Definitive Edition, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Switch 2 Edition, Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition, Crisis Core Reunion, Fatal Fury on Switch 2, the Resident Evil remake trio, Mario Kart World’s free track drop, and Star Fox’s multiplayer patch plus Adventures on GameCube Classics.
Quick nods and the end montage
Shorter callouts (dates only where stated live): 007: First Light; Far Cry 3 Classic Edition material; The Crew Motorfest; The Apothecary Diaries; House Flipper 2; Sonic Pico Park; Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World; Torneko’s Mystery Dungeon Classic HD; Hela; Eriksholm; Stellar Blade Complete Edition; The Ascent Ultimate Edition; It Takes Two (15 October); Palia Switch 2 Edition; Bluey’s Happy Snaps (15 October); Hot Wheels Infinite Rush; Fading Echo; Hell Is Us; Guardians of the Galaxy Encore Edition. Kirby Air Riders amiibo get a “last set” tease without a firm date.
Nintendo Treehouse: Live | September 2026 followed immediately (~110 minutes) with gameplay of select Direct titles. Segment lists were not verified for this draft.
What this means for Switch 2 winter (UAE-readable)
For players in the UAE and wider Middle East, Wednesday’s slate is a global digital calendar. eShop timings should track worldwide publisher windows; physical editions will follow usual Gulf retail pipelines when stocked. No Direct-specific AED pricing or Nintendo Middle East exclusives appeared in the wires reviewed — AED and local stock remain TBC.
Primary wires: GamesRadar live Direct blog; Eurogamer everything announced; VGC Metroid Ravenous; VGC Kirby and the World Beyond; Gematsu Monster Hunter Wilds Switch 2.
When was the September 2026 Nintendo Direct?
Wednesday 9 September 2026, roughly 45 minutes, focused on Switch 2 games for winter and beyond, with Treehouse Live afterwards (~110 minutes).
What are the biggest Switch 2 dates from the Direct?
Monster Hunter Wilds on 4 December 2026; Metroid Ravenous on 28 January 2027; Kirby and the World Beyond in Spring 2027; plus same-day Mario Kart World tracks and Meccha Chameleon.
Is Final Fantasy VII called Resonance or Revelation?
Revelation — 8 April 2027 on Switch 2. Crisis Core Reunion is available on Switch 2 today.
Is there UAE-specific AED pricing from this Direct?
No. Expect global digital windows; AED and physical stock remain TBC via regional eShop and retailers. Nintendo Middle East did not list Direct-specific exclusives in the wires reviewed.
When is the Star Fox free update versus Star Fox Adventures on NSO?
Star Fox Adventures joins Nintendo GameCube Classics today. The separate free multiplayer update for the modern Star Fox title is on 29 September 2026.
