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Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase Round-Up

by Alex Fuller · Published September 17, 2020 · Updated September 17, 2020

Nintendo held a new Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase presentation today, highlighting multiple new titles coming to Nintendo Switch from third-party developers over the next year. The first two games shown are brand-new entries in the Monster Hunter series: Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin. Both games were also part of a dedicated 15-minute Monster Hunter Direct presentation immediately after the Nintendo Direct Mini.

Monster Hunter Rise is a new mainline entry in the series. The game will see players able to use vertical movements to climb cliffs using a tool called the Wirebug, which will also work with attacks. Monster Hunter Rise introduces new Canyne companions called Palamutes, which players can ride and which will also attack enemies. Felyne Palico companions will also return as support-based allies, with players able to select two companions to take with them on hunts in single-player and one companion per player in multiplayer. The Fanged Wyvern Magnamalo is the game’s flagship monster, with the Bird Wyverns Aknosom and Great Izuchi and the amphibious Tetranadon also joining the roster. The game’s story is based around Kamura Village, and features an event known as the Rampage. Monster Hunter Rise will release on Nintendo Switch on March 26, 2020.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a follow-up to Nintendo 3DS title Monster Hunter Stories, a spin-off to the main series where players control a Rider, someone who partners up with and raises monsters. The new game’s story follows a mass disappearance of Rathalos and sees players controlling the descendant of a legendary Rider, who receives a Rathalos egg from a Wyverian girl. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin will release on Nintendo Switch in the summer of 2021. Monster Hunter Rise will have compatibility with Monster Hunter Stories 2, but no details were revealed at this stage.

NIS America and Nippon Ichi Software announced a new entry in the Disgaea series. Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny is planned for release on Nintendo Switch in North America and Europe in the summer of 2021. The game will launch for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in Japan on January 28, 2021. Disgaea 6 stars Zed, a zombie who lives on the lowest rung of the Netherworld with his sister Bieko. He is forced to fight against a God of Destruction, utilising his unique Super Reincarnation ability. To mark the announcement, the Switch version of its predecessor, Disgaea 5 Complete, will be available for Nintendo Online members to play for free as a special trial between September 23 and September 29, 2020.

Paradox Interactive and Romero Games’ 1920s crime-themed strategy title Empire of Sin received a new trailer. Following the presentation, the companies revealed that the game will launch for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Mac on December 1, 2020.

Supergiant Games’ Hades received a stealth launch today with its Nintendo Switch version joining the full launch of its PC version. The action rougelite sees players take on the role of the Prince of the Underworld as he attempts to escape it. The game had been in Steam Early Access since December 2019. Hades will not launch with cross-saves between both versions, but the feature is planned for a future update.

Finally, Marvelous and XSEED Games released the first trailer for Rune Factory 5. The game is the latest title in the Bokujō Monogatari spin-off series, and is set to launch for Nintendo Switch in 2021.

Monster Hunter Rise Trailer