Despite the packed lineup of announcements, surprise reveals, and major updates showcased during Nintendo Direct, several highly anticipated franchises were noticeably absent.
From long-awaited sequels to dormant series that fans continue to request year after year, the latest presentation left some players wondering when Nintendo will finally address these gaps in its lineup.
Here are some of the biggest games and franchises that didn’t appear during Nintendo Direct.
No New 3D Mario Game
It’s been nearly nine years since the release of Super Mario Odyssey.
Nintendo launched Mario’s last mainline 3D adventure on October 27, 2017, and since then, the company has remained silent about what comes next for its flagship franchise.
While Nintendo has continued to support Mario through spin-offs, remasters, and new entries in other genres, many fans expected the Nintendo Switch 2 era to begin with a brand-new 3D Mario experience.
Adding to the speculation is the fact that Nintendo EPD, the studio behind Super Mario Odyssey, recently released Donkey Kong Bonanza shortly after the launch of Nintendo Switch 2. With that project now complete, fans are hopeful the team’s next game could finally be Mario’s next big adventure.
The timing feels right for a new entry. Every Nintendo home console since the Nintendo 64 has eventually received its own major 3D Mario title, and Nintendo has often used Mario games to showcase the capabilities of new hardware.
Whether Nintendo plans to expand on the open-ended design of Odyssey or introduce an entirely new concept remains a mystery. For now, though, Nintendo has offered no hints about where the plumber will go next.
No New Luigi’s Mansion Game
Despite the success of Luigi’s Mansion 3, Nintendo has yet to reveal a new entry in the beloved ghost-hunting series.
Released on October 31, 2019, Luigi’s Mansion 3 became the best-selling game in the franchise and proved that Luigi can carry a major release on his own.
Nintendo revisited the series with Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, which launched on June 27, 2024, but the remaster wasn’t the sequel many fans were hoping for. The game is an updated version of Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon—known as Luigi’s Mansion 2 outside North America—which originally launched on Nintendo 3DS in 2013.
With nearly seven years having passed since Luigi’s Mansion 3, expectations for a new entry continue to grow.
The franchise has established its own identity through puzzle-solving, exploration, and lighthearted horror elements that appeal to players of all ages. A new installment built specifically for Nintendo Switch 2 could take advantage of the system’s improved hardware to deliver larger environments, more detailed visuals, and new gameplay mechanics centered around the Poltergust.
For now, though, Luigi’s next ghost hunt remains a mystery.
No Super Smash Bros.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate launched on December 7, 2018, and remains one of the Nintendo Switch’s defining games.
Director Masahiro Sakurai has repeatedly suggested that matching the scale of Ultimate would be extremely difficult, especially considering the game’s massive roster and extensive crossover content.
Still, with Nintendo Switch 2 now available, many players expected at least a teaser for the next chapter in the series. Whether Nintendo plans to build upon Ultimate or take the franchise in a completely new direction remains a mystery.
A new entry would face enormous expectations. Ultimate brought together more than 80 fighters from across gaming history, making it one of the most ambitious crossover projects ever created.
Because of that, many fans believe Nintendo may choose to reboot the series with a smaller roster and updated mechanics rather than attempt to surpass its predecessor in sheer scale.
Whatever Nintendo decides, Super Smash Bros. remains one of the company’s most important franchises, making its absence from Nintendo Direct especially noticeable.
No New Mainline The Legend of Zelda
Nintendo surprised fans by revealing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, but many players were hoping for a glimpse of what’s next for the series.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launched on May 12, 2023, following the groundbreaking release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on March 3, 2017.
While a new mainline Zelda game may still be years away, Nintendo’s remake announcement doesn’t answer the biggest question: Where does the franchise go next?
Nintendo transformed the series with its open-world approach over the past decade, leaving fans eager to see how the next original entry will evolve the formula.
Series producer Eiji Aonuma has previously indicated that the open-world structure introduced in Breath of the Wildrepresents the future of the franchise. However, some players have expressed interest in seeing elements from earlier games return, including more traditional dungeons and a stronger focus on linear storytelling.
With Nintendo Switch 2 now available, the next mainline Zelda game could push the series even further technically and creatively.
No Mario Superstar Baseball Revival
Mario sports games have remained a consistent part of Nintendo’s lineup, with recent releases including Mario Strikers: Battle League, Mario Tennis Aces, Mario Golf: Super Rush, and Mario Tennis Fever, which launched on February 12, 2026.
However, one sport continues to sit on the sidelines: baseball.
The original Mario Superstar Baseball launched for the Nintendo GameCube in 2005, followed by Mario Super Sluggerson Wii in 2008. Since then, the series has been absent despite continued fan demand.
Part of the appeal comes from the franchise’s unique approach to the sport. Rather than aiming for realism, the games embraced chaotic gameplay, character-specific abilities, and stadiums inspired by the Mushroom Kingdom.
With Nintendo revisiting so many classic franchises, many hoped Nintendo Direct would finally bring baseball back into the lineup.
Unfortunately, fans will have to keep waiting.
Final Thoughts
Nintendo Direct delivered plenty of exciting announcements and helped fill out the release calendar for the rest of the year. Even so, the absence of several major franchises left many fans with as many questions as answers.
Of course, Nintendo doesn’t always follow predictable marketing schedules. The company has a history of announcing major projects only months before release, and it has surprised players before with last-minute presentations, including the unexpected Star Fox showcase revealed shortly before going live earlier this year.
The company traditionally hosts another Nintendo Direct in September, and if that pattern continues in 2026, fans may not have to wait too long for another chance to see what’s next.
Whether it’s a new 3D Mario adventure, Luigi’s next ghost hunt, the future of Super Smash Bros., or another journey through Hyrule, Nintendo still has plenty of opportunities to surprise players before the end of the year.
Despite what Nintendo decides to do, we’ll continue following every announcement and reveal right here on GameTechXd to keep you informed about what’s coming next for Nintendo Switch 2 and beyond.
Until then, players can only speculate about when these beloved franchises will finally return.
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