Nintendo Direct showcases upcoming Nintendo content, including games and consoles, through online presentations or live shows. Launched on October 21, 2011, in Japan and North America, it later expanded to Europe, Australia, and South Korea. These presentations provide insights into Nintendo's franchises and future plans.
2012: Nintendo's Last Traditional E3 Press Conference
In 2012, Nintendo held what would be its last traditional E3 press conference. The event highlighted both the new Wii U hardware and upcoming games, but was perceived as lacking excitement compared to competitors. This contributed to Nintendo's decision to transition to the Nintendo Direct format for future E3 announcements.
2013: E3 2013 Website Issues
During the live stream of the pre-recorded Nintendo Direct presentation for E3 2013, Nintendo's website experienced server overload due to high traffic. This technical issue made the live video inaccessible for many viewers and prompted an official apology from Satoru Iwata.
2017: International Dubbing and Subtitling Introduced
From 2017 onward, Nintendo began dubbing or subtitling the Japanese presenters and narrators for international audiences, including English, making the content accessible to a wider audience.
2017: Yoshiaki Koizumi Becomes Worldwide Host
In 2017, Yoshiaki Koizumi from Nintendo EPD became the worldwide host of Nintendo Direct presentations, filling the role left vacant after Satoru Iwata's death.
2017: "Indie World" Showcases Launch in Japan
Recognizing the growing popularity of independent games, Nintendo launched "Indie World" presentations in Japan in 2017 to highlight these titles for the Nintendo Switch.
2017: Yoshiaki Koizumi Begins Hosting
Yoshiaki Koizumi stepped into the role of host for Nintendo Directs in 2017.
March 2018: Split Hosting Schedule Begins
From March 2018, a new hosting schedule was implemented for Nintendo Directs. Koizumi hosted presentations in the first half of the year, while Takahashi took over in the second half.
2018: Nintendo of Europe's "Indie Highlights"
From 2018 to 2019, Nintendo of Europe opted for its own "Indie Highlights" videos to showcase indie games.
2018: Shinya Takahashi Joins as Co-Host
Shinya Takahashi started sharing hosting duties with Yoshiaki Koizumi for Nintendo Direct presentations in 2018.
September 2019: Split Hosting Schedule Ends
The split hosting schedule, where Koizumi hosted in the first half of the year and Takahashi in the second, came to an end in September 2019.
2019: COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts the Industry
The COVID-19 pandemic, which began impacting the video game industry significantly in 2019, led to major disruptions in how games were developed, marketed, and showcased. This had a lasting effect on events like E3 and the rise of digital showcases like Nintendo Direct.
2019: English Dubbing for "Pokémon Direct"/"Pokémon Presents"
Since 2019, "Pokémon Direct"/"Pokémon Presents" presentations have been dubbed into English for European and Australian audiences, although subtitles in different languages are still available.
2019: Reggie Fils-Aimé Retires
Reggie Fils-Aimé, a prominent figure at Nintendo of America and a frequent host of Nintendo Directs, retired in 2019.
2019: "Nindies Showcase" Rebranded as "Indie World"
Nintendo of America rebranded its "Nindies Showcase" presentations, hosted by Bill Trinen, to align with the Japanese "Indie World" banner in 2019. This move consolidated the branding for indie game showcases across regions.
March 2020: E3 2020 Canceled
Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, E3 2020 was canceled in March 2020, significantly impacting the video game industry's usual event schedule.
2020: "Mr. Sakurai Presents" Subtitling Begins
In 2020, due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Nintendo of America began subtitling the "Mr. Sakurai Presents" presentations, a series focusing on the Super Smash Bros. franchise, instead of dubbing them. This approach continued until the final presentation in 2021, with the exception of Sakurai's appearance in the 2021 E3 Nintendo Direct after Kazuya's reveal.
February 2021: Split Hosting Schedule Resumes (Reversed)
In February 2021, the split hosting schedule for Nintendo Directs was reinstated but with a reversal of roles. Takahashi hosted presentations in the first half of the year, and Koizumi took over for the second half.
2021: Final "Mr. Sakurai Presents" with Sora
The final "Mr. Sakurai Presents" presentation aired in 2021, featuring Sora from Kingdom Hearts as the final DLC character for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
March 2022: E3 2022 Canceled
Continuing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of E3 2022 in March 2022.
September 2022: Split Hosting Schedule Ends (Again)
September 2022 marked the end of the second iteration of the split hosting schedule for Nintendo Directs, where Takahashi hosted in the first half of the year and Koizumi in the second.
March 2023: E3 2023 Canceled & ESA Discontinues E3
E3 2023 was canceled in March 2023 due to waning interest, and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) decided to permanently discontinue E3 later that year in December. This marked the end of an era for the long-running video game trade show.
June 2023: Joint Appearance by Koizumi and Takahashi
In a departure from the split hosting format, both Yoshiaki Koizumi and Shinya Takahashi appeared together as hosts for the June 2023 Nintendo Direct.
December 2023: E3 Officially Discontinued
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) officially discontinued E3 in December 2023 after several years of cancellations and declining relevance, leading to a shift towards publisher-specific showcases, including dedicated Nintendo Directs for major announcements.