Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, February 5, 2026: Third‑Party Powerhouse
Nintendo’s latest Partner Showcase wasn’t just another mid-tier update; it was a quiet flex. A reminder that the Switch 2 isn’t here to play catch-up anymore. It’s here to compete. And while the show leaned entirely on third-party publishers, the lineup was strong enough to feel like a real statement about where Nintendo is heading in 2026.
Bethesda Steals the Show, But I’m Still Skeptical
Bethesda showing up was the biggest shock of the entire presentation, but I’m not ready to hand them a victory lap. Sure, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle landing on Switch 2 in May is a big deal, and Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition dropping this month should be exciting… but Bethesda has burned fans before. Fallout 4’s “Anniversary Edition” still has issues on hardware far stronger than the Switch 2, so hearing them promise a smooth experience here doesn’t magically erase their track record. And while Oblivion Remastered, coming later this year, is a hype moment, I’m keeping my expectations grounded. Bethesda loves big reveals, and consistent performance is always the part I’m watching closely.
Square Enix Brings the Heat, And Maybe a Hint About FF7 Part 3
Square Enix, on the other hand, brought a different kind of energy. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth hitting Switch 2 in June is wild enough, but the real story is that it’s also coming to Xbox. That shift tells me Square Enix is done with the exclusivity dance and is gearing up for maximum reach. And honestly, it has me thinking about the bigger picture. If Rebirth is already going multi-platform this early, FF7 Remake Part 3 might be closer than anyone expected. Early 2027 doesn’t feel unrealistic anymore, especially with how aggressively Square is positioning the trilogy. They’ve finally found momentum, and they’re not slowing down.
Anime Fans Are Going To Eat Well
The rest of the showcase leaned heavily into anime-inspired titles, and it worked. Captain Tsubasa 2, Paranormality: The Mermaid’s Curse, Another Eden Begins, and a new Tales of Arise edition all hit the exact audience Nintendo knows is thriving on Switch 2. It’s a smart move; anime-driven games have been carrying engagement for years, and this lineup shows Nintendo understands where the demand is.
New Ips and Surprise Drops
There were also a few standout surprises. Tokyo Scramble, a co-op stealth-survival game set in underground Tokyo, looks like the kind of weird, stylish project that thrives on Nintendo hardware. Valheim coming to Switch 2 is a massive win for survival fans, and Orbitals, a retro‑anime co‑op action game, feels like a sleeper hit waiting to happen. Even the sizzle reel had weight, with titles like WWE 2K26, Goat Simulator 3, Disney Dreamlight Valley, and a new Star Trek game rounding out the lineup.
What Was Missing, And Why It Matters
But for everything this Partner Showcase delivered, there were a few glaring absences that say just as much as the games that actually showed up. The biggest one for me was FromSoftware. Last year, Nintendo proudly showed off Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, and fans immediately started wondering how the Switch 2 would handle a game that already pushes other consoles. Since then? Silence. And it’s not hard to see why. The Tarnished Edition was shown in 2025 and was a disaster, plagued by performance issues. FromSoft isn’t the type to rush a port just to hit a marketing beat, but its absence here was still noticeable, especially when Nintendo is trying to prove Switch 2 can stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with PlayStation and Xbox. Landing Elden Ring would be the kind of move that changes perception overnight. And speaking of absences, The Dusk Bloods, the new FromSoft IP that had everyone buzzing last year, was nowhere to be seen either, no update, no teaser, nothing. For a game that was positioned as their next significant evolution, its complete disappearance from the conversation raises more questions than answers.
Shadow Gaming’s Take
When you zoom out, the message is clear: Nintendo didn’t need first-party games to make noise. This showcase was all about proving that the Switch 2 finally has real third-party muscle, something fans have been begging for since the Wii U era. Bethesda brought the shock factor, Square Enix brought the momentum, and the anime-heavy lineup filled in the rest. There’s still plenty to be skeptical about, especially with missing heavy hitters and a few publishers who’ve burned us before, but there’s also real potential here. If Nintendo can keep this pace and land the partnerships they’re clearly chasing, 2026 might end up being a far more interesting year than anyone expected.