Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake, Kingdom Hearts 4, Game Pass Losses
Jun 9, 2026 · 1mo ago
The summer showcase season reached a fever pitch today as Nintendo delivered a massive Nintendo Direct packed with blockbuster announcements for the Nintendo Switch 2. From legendary remakes to long-awaited sequels, the presentation reshaped the upcoming release calendar. Candid admissions from Xbox leadership have also revealed the steep cost of recent business decisions.
Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake and Xenoblade Genesis Announced for Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo has officially announced a full remake of the Nintendo 64 classic The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo Switch 2, scheduled to launch later this year . The debut teaser trailer showcases a high-fidelity, realistic visual style that departs from the series' traditional abstract aesthetics . This marks the first major release in the franchise since 2024's The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
Alongside the Zelda reveal, developer Monolith Soft announced Xenoblade Genesis, a brand-new entry described as "a new beginning" for the franchise, slated for a 2027 release on the Nintendo Switch 2 . To bridge the gap, upgraded Switch 2 Editions of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 are also on the way, featuring 4K resolution support on TVs and 60fps performance .
Other major first-party highlights from the broadcast include a surprise free demo for the new Star Fox remake, developed by Velan Studios, which is available to download today . The tactical RPG Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave has also secured a September 17, 2026 release date on the Nintendo Switch 2, priced at $69.99 .
Kingdom Hearts 4 Gameplay Revealed with Simultaneous Nintendo Switch 2 Release
After four years of radio silence, Square Enix re-emerged to showcase the first gameplay trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4. The highly anticipated sequel is confirmed for a simultaneous day-one release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and the Nintendo Switch 2 . The new footage features protagonist Sora navigating a highly detailed, downtown Tokyo-style environment .
To prepare players for the next chapter, Square Enix also announced the Kingdom Hearts Collection I ~ III for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, launching this October . The collection bundles the entire saga so far, giving fans a way to catch up on the story before the fourth entry arrives .
Dragon's Dogma 2 Dark Arisen Expansion and Final Fantasy Resonance Lead Third-Party Lineup
Capcom has announced Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, a massive expansion to the 2024 action RPG that will launch on October 9, 2026 . The DLC introduces a frozen mountainous region called Norgan, populated by ice giants and emaciated dragons, and will release alongside a native Nintendo Switch 2 port of the base game . Ahead of the expansion, Capcom is releasing two major free updates to address player feedback, with the first patch dropping tomorrow .
Square Enix and developer Lancarse also unveiled Final Fantasy Resonance, the franchise's very first HD-2D turn-based RPG . Based on the now-shuttered mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, the title features cameos from iconic characters like Cloud and Tidus and is scheduled to release on October 22, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 .
Xbox Lost Millions of Game Pass Subscribers Following Price Hike
Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball has confirmed that Xbox Game Pass lost "millions" of subscribers following the controversial October 2025 price increase, which saw Xbox Game Pass Ultimate jump to $29.99 per month . In a candid interview, Ball explained that a global "memory crisis" and rising component prices are severely limiting console production speeds, making it difficult to meet hardware demand . These manufacturing limitations have forced Microsoft to rethink its approach to Project Helix and commit to platform exclusives on a "case-by-case" basis to stabilize the business .
This shifting exclusivity strategy sparked confusion online after an official Xbox podcast video briefly aired showing a PlayStation 5 logo at the end of the Gears of War: E-Day trailer . Xbox quickly pulled the video and denied that a PlayStation 5 port was cancelled at the last minute, reiterating that the upcoming shooter remains an Xbox console exclusive .
