According to Kotaku, multiple insiders are pointing to a new Nintendo Direct happening around February 3-5 to kick off the month. The event is specifically rumored to be a Partner Showcase, which means it will focus on third-party and partner studio games rather than first-party Nintendo titles. Insiders like NateTheHate on X and the YouTube channel GameXplain have suggested this, with VGC corroborating the claims. The showcase is expected to preview the first half of 2026 for the Switch 2, likely highlighting a flood of ports for the new platform. Key titles without firm dates, like Elden Ring and Borderlands 4, are prime candidates for announcements. The latter, Borderlands 4, was recently rumored for a late February release on the Switch 2.
The expected port parade
So, what’s actually going to be there? Look, a Partner Showcase in February is basically Nintendo’s way of locking down the release calendar with known quantities. We’ll probably see those big, promised ports finally get dates. That means Elden Ring and Borderlands 4 are almost certain bets. But the rumor mill has been churning about other heavy hitters too. Monster Hunter Wilds seems like a no-brainer. And there’s chatter about Final Fantasy VII Rebirth making the jump sooner than people thought.
I’m more intrigued by the longer list of “maybes.” Games like Metaphor: Refantazio or even Final Fantasy XVI could show up as surprise ports. It’s a safe strategy. These are established games with built-in audiences, and bringing them to the Switch 2 fills a library fast. But here’s the thing: it also sets a specific tone. It tells us that, at least for year one, the Switch 2’s third-party strategy might lean heavily on catching up with the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S catalog, rather than launching brand-new AAA games day-and-date.
The Microsoft mystery
Now, this is where I get skeptical. The article brings up the “missing Microsoft support,” and it’s a valid point. We’ve heard whispers about Call of Duty for spring, but where’s the official word? A Halo remake has been rumored forever. And with games like Sea of Thieves and the upcoming Avowed (which is going to PS5!), you’d think porting them would be relatively straightforward. So why the radio silence?
Is it a strategic holdout? Or are the technical hurdles for something like Starfield just too big, even for a “2.0” version? Microsoft’s commitment to putting its games everywhere is the big story in the industry right now. If the Switch 2 Direct comes and goes without a major Xbox Game Studios logo, that sends a message. Maybe the partnership isn’t as deep as we hoped. Or maybe the deals just aren’t ready to be announced. But its absence would be glaring.
The bigger picture for Switch 2
Basically, this rumored Direct is a crucial first impression for the Switch 2’s 2026. A slew of solid ports proves the system can run modern games and gives people a reason to buy one. That’s good! But I think fans are also quietly hoping for a surprise or two—a new exclusive project from a major partner, or at least a couple of big games launching simultaneously on Switch 2 and other platforms.
We’re in this weird era where “every game on every device” is the goal, but it’s not the reality yet. Nintendo still needs to prove its new hardware is a viable target from day one for third parties, not an afterthought. A strong Partner Showcase filled with credible, dated ports does a lot of that work. But if it’s *only* that, it might also feel a bit… safe. We’ll know soon enough, if the rumors about that early February window from insiders and VGC are correct.
