Nintendo Direct announced for today and it still isn’t for Switch 2

Nintendo has resorted to putting disclaimers on subsequent Direct presentations to control expectations, but there’s been a string of surprises in recent months which has bordered on troll behaviour – including a museum, the Alarmo clock, a new music app, and a Switch port of Xenoblade Chronicles X.

The company has now announced a Direct presentation for something else completely separate from Nintendo’s Switch successor: a new area in the Super Nintendo World theme park.

When is the next Nintendo Direct?

The Super Nintendo World Direct is set to be streamed live today and will showcase the new Donkey Kong Country expansion coming to the theme park at Universal Studios Japan. It will span roughly 10 minutes, with the disclaimer that ‘no game information will be featured’.

You’ll be able to watch the stream live through Nintendo’s YouTube channels on Monday, November 11 at 10pm GMT in the UK, which translates to 2pm PT/5pm ET in the US.

The Donkey Kong Country expansion was originally slated to open in spring this year, but it was delayed to late 2024 with no specific date. As such, it’s very likely this presentation will reveal an opening date, potentially for this month.

While this is focused on Universal Studios Japan, Donkey Kong Country and its Mine-Cart Madness ride will debut in the West at the upcoming Super Nintendo World park at Universal Orlando, which is set to open next year.

There’s currently no confirmation that it’ll be part of the Universal Studios park in Los Angeles, which is more pushed for space.

This is Nintendo’s third Direct presentation since August, following a Nintendo Museum broadcast and a joint Indie World and Partner Showcase.

Is there a Zelda surprise coming in 2024?

While it looks increasingly unlikely that we’ll see any news about the Switch 2 this year, rumours suggest Nintendo isn’t quite done with surprise announcements.

Insider Samus Hunter, who teased the Donkey Kong Country showcase ahead of its reveal and correctly predicted the Xenoblade Chronicles X remaster, has hinted that something Zelda-related is also coming this winter.

In a post on X, the insider states it is ‘not a hint for a Zelda game’ and is ‘more like a riddle’, with the picture showing Link playing the ocarina from Zelda: Ocarina Of Time. Many have suggested it could be related to additional Zelda songs for the Nintendo Music app, which makes sense considering there are barely any songs on it. With the musical theme, a Zelda concert of sorts might also be a possibility.

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We’ll have to wait and see if a Zelda announcement does materialise, but just don’t expect the long rumoured Wind Waker and Twilight Princess remasters to make a sudden appearance.

Donkey Kong’s expansion is coming to Super Nintendo World in Orlando too (Nintendo)