E3 2021 is coming up, and quickly. The show kicks off on June 12 and will run through June 15. Nintendo will have their presentation on the last day, June 15, at 9am PT/12pm ET. It will be a 40-minute presentation and Nintendo promises to show off what they have in store for us in the second half of 2021 for the Nintendo Switch. While there are a lot of rumors swirling around, we have our own thoughts on potential announcements that will take place during their presentation. Nintendo always has a few surprises up their sleeves, and with Zelda’s 35th anniversary taking place this year, it’s finally time for them to commemorate it. And they will. Here are our E3 2021 Nintendo Switch predictions.
🗓 Nintendo at #E32021: 6/15, 9am PT!
Tune in for a #NintendoDirect with roughly 40 minutes of info focused exclusively on #NintendoSwitch software, mostly releasing in 2021, followed by around 3 hours of gameplay in #NintendoTreehouseLive | E3 2021.
https://t.co/TMjlZ5G37G pic.twitter.com/Hh1l6y0WVh— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 2, 2021
Breath of the Wild 2 Will Come Out in 2021
There has long been speculation on when Breath of the Wild 2 would come out for the Nintendo Switch, but we’re fairly confident that Nintendo will announce that it will be released in 2021 and it will be a focal point of their E3 presentation. There’s no better way to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Zelda franchise than to release the sequel to what is arguably the greatest game of all-time. Oh, and Ganondorf is back! We cannot wait!
Nintendo Will Announce a Zelda 35th Anniversary Collection
With Skyward Sword HD coming out and in all probability Breath of the Wild 2, it’s time for a Zelda anthology collection. This is likely to happen. Back in February, two prominent gaming journalists stated that Twilight Princess HD and Wind Waker HD will be coming to the Nintendo Switch. All they would need would be to port the games to the system; it would be a pretty easy feat. In addition, we predict that Nintendo will port Ocarina of Time 3D in high definition to the Switch as well, releasing them in one package for $60.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Will Be Announced
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is one of the best games for the Nintendo Switch, and Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition, in turn, is one of the best games for the system as well, despite being an HD remaster. With the appearance of the “Conduit”, which is essentially the Zohar from the earlier Xeno games, and the appearance of KOS-MOS in current Monolith Soft artwork, we predict that she will be present in the game. The characters will comprise of the main characters from both Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles 2, who are incredibly beloved. This will be Nintendo’s E3 surprise. Many will not see it coming. It has been almost four years since Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and the franchise is overdue for the next installment in the franchise.
Metroid Prime 4 Will Be Shown
It seems like forever since Metroid Prime 4 was announced, and then shortly after restarted development from the ground up. After a number of years, we believe Retro Studios and Nintendo will finally have something to show. It won’t be releasing this year, but, it will wet Metroid fans’ appetites. Bayonetta 3, however, is unlikely to be shown in our opinion.
An Original 2D Zelda Will Be Announced
Now, we have no inside knowledge, but we predict that a brand-new 2D Zelda game will be announced for the Nintendo Switch. With all of the 3D titles potentially coming out, Zelda needs something fresh. A Link Between Worlds was the pinnacle of Zelda, and the remake of Link’s Awakening showed that 2D Zelda is still viable. This will not be a remake of any current Zelda game or A Link to the Past, which we would love personally, but that’s essentially what A Link Between Worlds was. Now, this game will not be released in 2021 and will most likely be a mid-to-late 2022 release. Zelda will have enough on its plate for this year. A brand new 2D Zelda is highly likely in the near future, and we predict that Nintendo will unveil it at E3 2021.