Nintendo Direct September 2026 Leaves Fans Waiting on 3D Mario, The Duskbloods
Nintendo's September 2026 Direct delivered Metroid Ravenous and Kirby and the World Beyond, but fans were disappointed by the absence of The Duskbloods, a new 3D Mario, Luigi's Mansion 4, and Animal Crossing.
Nintendo's September 2026 Direct has come and gone, and with it any immediate hope of seeing a new 3D Mario, The Duskbloods, or other highly anticipated titles that fans expected to appear. The 45-minute presentation showcased several major announcements, including Metroid Ravenous, a new 2D adventure for Samus, and Kirby and the World Beyond, which takes the franchise into 3D in 2027. Mario Kart World also received a new update featuring reimagined SNES courses available for free.
Despite those highlights, many players expressed frustration that the event lacked a more substantial lineup as the year winds down. The absence of The Duskbloods, FromSoftware's vampire-themed Switch 2 exclusive multiplayer game, stood out in particular. The title still carries a 2026 release window, but no new details or release date were shared during the Direct. A recent network test for the game reportedly encountered issues, and fans are now wondering whether the project might be delayed, though Nintendo and FromSoftware have not made any such announcement.
Another notable no-show was any mention of a new mainline 3D Mario game. Super Mario Odyssey launched about eight months after the original Switch, but more than 15 months after the Switch 2's release, no successor has been revealed. Social media posts reflected growing impatience, with some commenters noting the long gap since the last full 3D Mario adventure. Donkey Kong Bananza was mentioned as a recent platformer highlight, but it did not ease calls for a new Mario title.
Fans also hoped for news on Luigi's Mansion 4, though Nintendo has never officially announced such a game. Developer Next Level Games, acquired by Nintendo in 2021, has not led a major release since Mario Strikers: Battle League in 2022, and Luigi's Mansion 3 came out almost seven years ago. The studio assisted with Metroid Prime 4 in 2025, but no new ghost-hunting adventure was shown.
Animal Crossing was another topic of speculation, despite no formal announcement of a new entry. The last mainline game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, launched in 2020, and a Switch 2 version arrived earlier this year. Nintendo has historically taken long breaks between Animal Crossing releases, but that did not stop fans from expressing disappointment on social media when the franchise was absent from the Direct.
Mario Kart World did appear in the presentation, but some players felt the update was not enough. The free addition of SNES courses was welcomed, yet commenters on social media and news sites asked for new characters and original tracks instead of reimagined classics. Nintendo has not detailed long-term plans for the game, though Mario Kart 8 received its Booster Course Pass years after its original release, suggesting additional content could still arrive.
Rumors about new Super Smash Bros., Nintendogs, and other projects also circulated before the event, but none materialized. A Zelda anniversary stream the previous day brought several announcements, which may have raised expectations for the Direct. As the year closes, Nintendo has not confirmed release dates for several major titles, leaving fans to wait for future presentations or updates.
