I am incredibly late to this, whoops. Sorry about that, I'm still figuring out exactly how I want to format these things, so I'll be trying something a little different from last month's monthly roundup. I'll probably keep experimenting with these until I find a format that sticks, but for now, let's get right into it.
Following in the wake of an eventful summer showcase season in June, the month of July would not be outdone, being a highly eventful month in the video game industry... but that's not always a good thing.
I'm sure everyone has heard the news that broke throughout the month, and while I'll be beating a dead horse, if I'm going to be recapping July 2026, I can't completely ignore it.
Yes, Sony is killing physical games in 2028, and I'm not happy about it. HOWEVER, I'm not freaking out over it as many online have. I've been preparing myself for this moment for years, knowing it was an inevitability with the way the industry was trending, but it feels surreal that it's actually happening, and much sooner than I anticipated at that.
Now, while I already don't use my PS5 much anymore, with the Switch 2 starting to get many of the games I would play on that platform, this will certainly make PlayStation games released in 2028 and beyond a tougher sell for me. While I'm not against buying games digitally- I grabbed recent Nintendo releases like Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream and Rhythm Heaven Groove digitally as I wanted those games available at a moment's notice- I much prefer buying physical. It's to the point where, if Kingdom Hearts IV, the game I bought a PS5 game in anticipation of for all intents and purposes and still intended to buy there even after the Switch 2 version was announced, doesn't release next year and has a key-card version on Switch 2, I'll probably just go for that instead. We're still too far out for me to definitively make that decision, that is my current plan.
I don't believe the decision is going to hurt Sony's bottom line as much as some, but with the way the announcement was made and lack of communication that's followed, it's hard to deny that the reputation of the PlayStation brand has taken a massive blow, and that sucks. Don't take it the wrong way, I'm not rooting for Sony's downfall or anything. The PlayStation brand is such an important brand in gaming, and the industry is healthiest when all major players are healthy. That's why this whole situation, as well as other news that broke last month, just overall saddens me.
At the end of the day, gaming will go on, whether physical survives or not. I firmly believe that, in time, everything will adapt and settle down to this all digital future, and things will just be the way they are. I don't love it, and I am saddened by the impending loss of physical games as an option. But, ultimately, gaming is my hobby, and while the whole situation undoubtedly sucks, I'm at a phase in my life where I have far more important things to worry about, and would prefer to focus on enjoying gaming right now, rather than fixating on the future that is still a ways away and out of my control.
That's just my two cents, though. It's an important topic that does matter a lot to me, so I wanted to cover it. I'll probably write a more in-depth post covering the whole situation at some point, but for now, I thought it would be appropriate to include my thoughts to kick off the month's recap, even if it isn't directly Nintendo related.
Speaking of the Big N... they put out Rhythm Heaven Groove last month, a game that most major publishers would likely never greenlight these days, and my goodness it represents everything I love about Nintendo in the modern gaming landscape.
So, yeah, while there was a lot of cruddy news that came out in July, there was still plenty of good to be found. For their part, it kind of felt like Nintendo was just weathering the storm this month, quietly putting out two banger titles while fires raged elsewhere in the industry.
(Believe me, I'm trying really hard to choose my words so as to not come off as a raging fanboy (even if I admittedly can be sometimes), but that's just how I see it)
This IS supposed to be a Nintendo-focused recap, but I just wanted to briefly weigh in on the most pressing story in gaming from the last month. With that out of the way, though, let's dive in for real.
The way I compiled everything this time around was going through the calendar and News section in the Nintendo Today! app, and singling out anything I thought was noteworthy, as well as adding a couple additional things myself, before splitting everything up into a handful of categories: releases, announcements, Nintendo Music, events, and miscellaneous. In each category, I'll have each point listed in chronological order, with a few comments going into further detail on most items.
I have no idea if this format is going to work well, it could end up working great, or being an unmitigated disaster. I won't know until I try, so, here we go!
RELEASES
Let's start with all the things that came out last month. In June's roundup, I only focused on software, whether it was new games, demos, or Nintendo Classics releases. All of that is still here, but I've expanded the reach of this category to cover major software updates and hardware/accessories, like controllers and amiibo. Let's start at the very beginning of the month.
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Mario Kart World Ver. 1.7.0 (July 1st, 2026)
July got off to a hot start when Mario Kart World received easily its biggest update yet, adding two new Knockout Tour rallies and promising six more to come in the future. The ability to use stickers in photo mode was also added. The promise of more additional content was just as, if not more important than the new content we did get, finally giving us some form of road map for World, hopefully leading up to some more substantial DLC content.
I wrote a more detailed post on this update earlier in the month, which you can check out here!
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Kirby Air Riders King Dedede & Tank Star amiibo Released (July 1st, 2026)
This one completely went under my radar until putting this roundup together. Coming out pretty much alongside Rhythm Heaven Groove, the absolutely-too-expensive Kirby Air Riders amiibo line continued its rollout with the King Dedede & Tank Star amiibo, which for some reason costs a staggering $54.99... $15 more than the game it released alongside... yeah... that is entirely too much for an amiibo figure. amiibo in general are highly expensive these days, which is a real shame as collecting them isn't as fun as it used to be at these prices.
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Rhythm Heaven Groove Released (July 2nd, 2026)
Speaking of Rhythm Heaven Groove... uh, here it is! I immediately fell in love with this game and its unique style, simple yet satisfying gameplay, and incredible soundtrack (Remix 8 and Soda Hop 2 my beloveds). I loved it so much, that I went back and played Fever and Megamix so I could consume as much of the series as possible, because I was kind of obsessed for a couple weeks there. That obsession has since died down, but my love for Groove and the Rhythm Heaven series as a whole certainly has not. I'm working on a full review of Groove that I hope to release soon, so I'll go into more detail there. Until then, Rhythm Heaven Groove is simply excellent, and, like I said above, represents everything I love about Nintendo.
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GB and GBA Nintendo Classics Update Adds Wario Land, Fortified Zone, Sword of Hope II, and Dr. Mario & Puzzle League (July 7th, 2026)
The lone Nintendo Classics drop in July added one of my most wanted Game Boy games yet to be added in Wario Land, a series I've been wanting to play through, but have been waiting for the first two games to arrive on Nintendo Classics. I'll still have to wait for Wario Land 2, but at least I can get started whenever I want to with the first game and VB Wario Land (still crazy we got that game and Wario World months before Wario Land 1). I haven't gotten to it yet, but I have tried Dr. Mario & Puzzle League, which features a solid version of Puzzle League and a version of Dr. Mario I didn't really care for.
You can read my full thoughts on this drop here.
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Yoshi and the Mysterious Book eShop Demo Released (July 8th, 2026)
Probably my most pleasant surprise of the year so far, I'm glad Mysterious Book got a demo so people can try it out and see what makes it unique and special, because, as much as I liked it, it won't be for everyone.
You can read more here.
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Free Galaxy-Inspired Update for Mario Tennis Fever Released (July 15th, 2026)
Honestly, I'm glad this happened for the sole reason as it gave me an excuse to talk about by-far my most disappointing game of the Switch 2 era so far. I'm glad they put out some more content for it, though it does little to solve the issues I had with the game, and it's just kind of weird how long it took to get any post-launch content in Fever.
I went into more detail on my thoughts on the update and the game as a whole, and you can check that out here.
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Splatoon Raiders Released (July 23rd, 2026)
The other heavy hitter of the month, Splatoon Raiders is an excellent single-player spinoff in Nintendo's newest major franchise. In essence, the game takes the Salmon Run mode from Splatoon 2 and 3, and, using the power of Switch 2, cranks it up to 11, sending massive mobs of Salmonids your way all while the game maintains a silky smooth framerate. It's not as visually stunning as Mario Kart World or Donkey Kong Bananza, but it uses the Switch 2's enhanced tech in subtler ways like that to create an experience that likely would've been severely compromised on Switch 1, and I just think that's neat. The eventual Splatoon 4 will likely be a larger technical leap for the series that fully utilizes the Switch 2's power, but for a spinoff seemingly built off of Splatoon 3, Raiders is an excellent debut for the franchise on Nintendo's latest console. Like with Groove, I aim to put out a full review of the game at some point soon, so keep an eye out for that!
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Splatoon Raiders Shiver, Frye, and Big Man amiibo Released (July 23rd, 2026)
It wouldn't be a Splatoon launch without some new amiibo to coincide with it, and, as seems to be tradition at this point, Raiders came alongside another new trio of figures! This time, we got a new set of Deep Cut figures, now sporting their outfits from Raiders. What's super neat about this set, as far as I remember, is that the bases of the three figures are designed to link together, allowing them all to seamlessly be displayed together as if it were one larger figure. I haven't grabbed any of them yet myself, and they're all currently sold out on Nintendo's online store, but I do eventually want to grab the Big Man figure. It'll go nicely alongside the other Big Man amiibo I have.
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Blue/Light Yellow Joy-Con 2 Released (July 23rd, 2026)
New amiibo weren't the only accessories accompanying the release of Splatoon Raiders, as we also received a new variety of Joy-Con 2! The Blue/Light Yellow Joy-Con 2 arrived as the third different set of colors for the Switch 2's primary controllers, seemingly referencing the primary color scheme of Splatoon 3, as well as, funnily enough, being the exact same color combination I currently have on my old Switch 1. It joins the Light Blue/Light Red pairing available since launch and the Light Purple/Light Green set that launched alongside Mario Tennis Fever. Though, as much as I would love to grab a set of these to freshen up the look of my Switch 2, I currently can't justify spending $100 on a pair of Joy-Con 2 when the ones that came with the system still work great and the differences in color are far less stark than the Joy-Con 1, only having accents of color as opposed to the entire controller being a different color. I'd like to see some special edition Joy-Con 2 that go for some crazy designs if I'm gonna jump on a new set, as the Skyward Sword Joy-Con in particular have one of my favorite designs of any controller I own.
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Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Released Digitally (July 30th, 2026)
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Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Released Physically (July 30th, 2026)
The month concluded with a pair of Xenoblade releases: the digital version of Xenoblade 2's Switch 2 Edition, and the physical release of Definitive Edition's Switch 2 Edition, with the physical version of Xenoblade 2 coming later on. Not much to say that I haven't already said, as I didn't grab either upgrade. I don't plan to play Xenoblade 2 again because it's such a long game, and while I want to eventually play through Definitive Edition in full, that probably won't be happening anytime soon.
To read more, check out this post.
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Resident Evil Requiem Leon Kennedy and Grace Ashcroft amiibo Released (July 30th, 2026)
Here's something that completely slipped past my radar. The Resident Evil Requiem amiibo figures released right at the end of July and I didn't even notice. Surprise, surprise, they're both sold out on Nintendo's online store, much like the Deep Cut amiibo. It's always really cool to get third-party amiibo, whether it be the Shovel Knight line (which, I actually have the Plague Knight/Sceptre Knight/King Knight triple pack, which I happened to randomly stumble upon at Best Buy on the day Metroid Dread came out, it was pricey but I couldn't NOT buy it), the Dark Souls Solaire figure, the shockingly large lineage of Monster Hunter figures, or even the Smash figures of third-party characters like Sora, Joker, and Banjo and Kazooie. Though, I think these two are some of the coolest we've gotten, as these are characters from a hardcore game that's not immediately associated with Nintendo, but was one of many things that Capcom did to really lean into the Switch 2 version of Requiem. For example, who would've expected the first special edition Switch 2 Pro Controller to be based on Resident Evil? If you did, no you didn't. I really want to grab the Leon amiibo at some point, cause he's a cool character and the fact he has an amiibo is really sick.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Kirby Air Riders Chef Kawasaki & Hop Star amiibo Announced for Release on September 3rd, 2026 (July 1st, 2026)
The Air Riders amiibo line continues rolling out with another grossly overpriced figure early next month! On the same day the King Dedede and Tank Star figure released, Chef Kawasaki and Hop Star was announced to be arriving on September 3rd, costing a less-than-Dedede-but-still-eyewatering $44.99. That's still $5 more expensive than Rhythm Heaven Groove (just buy Rhythm Heaven Groove dang it). After this, I believe there are two more Air Riders figures that have currently been announced, centering on the Legendary Air Ride Machines, with one featuring Noir Dedede, which is pretty cool. Too bad they're almost certainly going to be far too expensive. It's prices like these that have sadly sucked a lot of the fun out of amiibo collecting, as I'm much more selective with my amiibo purchases than I used to be. One thing to note is that this figure doesn't seem to be accompanying a new Nintendo release like many figures tend to. Even the Resident Evil figures came out alongside the physical version of Xenoblade Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition. Heck, the upcoming Mineru's Construct amiibo helped me predict the release date of Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. It is coming out the same day as Orbitals, though, which has been heavily pushed, so...
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Splatoon Raiders Overview Trailer Released (July 21st, 2026)
As is tradition before a new Nintendo game launches, Splatoon Raiders received an Overview Trailer a few days before launch, going over the game's various features, likely featuring some quirky narration from the Squid Research Lab. I don't know, I didn't watch it, as I felt I already knew everything I wanted to know about the game going into it, and the trailer only preceded the game's launch by 2 days. I don't watch Overview Trailers all that much unless there's genuinely new information in them, two that come to mind bring Super Mario Party Jamboree's Overview Trailer, which showed off some more modes, and Star Crossed World's, which showed off new Mouthful Modes and teased story beats. That's a really long-winded way of saying I have nothing to say on this.
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LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade Set Announced for August 1st, 2026 (July 23rd, 2026)
After suffering a couple leaks, as most major LEGO sets seem to, the latest 18+ LEGO Super Mario set was unveiled officially just over a week before it was available. Dare I say this is one of the coolest Nintendo LEGO sets I've ever seen, and despite being pretty pricey at $200, I'm definitely gonna try to get it at some point.
You can read more on this set here.
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Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Overview Trailer Released (July 23rd, 2026)
Second verse, same as the first. I think I did watch this one but only because it was played before the Fortune's Weave Direct.
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Hasbro The Legend of Zelda Action Figures Announced for Spring 2027 (July 24th, 2026)
I just thought this was kinda neat, and the release window of Spring 2027 just so happens to line up with when the Zelda movie arrives in theaters. Probably not a coincidence.
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Pokemon Pokopia Expansion Pass Part 1 Extended Trailer Released, Dated for August 5th, 2026 (July 29th, 2026)
Pokopia is one of those games I keep saying I'm gonna return to, only to keep kicking the can down the road. Not even this DLC's release got me to jump back in despite really wanting to... I swear I'll get to it eventually, it's such a good game that I just, haven't given enough time to.
That aside, if you want to learn more about the first DLC pack, check out my post on it that definitely isn't filled with the same dumb underwater house building joke repeated ad nauseum. Totally. Trust.
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Super Mario Sunshine, Zero Racers, and D-Hopper Release Dates Announced for Nintendo Classics (July 30th, 2026)
While we only got the one Nintendo Classics update in July, Nintendo made sure to lay out their plans for the service's next month right at the end of the month. The last two previously announced Virtual Boy titles, Zero Racers and D-Hopper, both of which had never actually been officially released, were dated for just a few days later, dropping on August 4th. Meanwhile, Super Mario Sunshine makes its long overdue arrival on Nintendo Classics this week, on August 13th. And yes, I STILL can't believe we got Wario World 8 months before Sunshine. That still boggles my mind. Sunshine's release will also break a lengthy dry spell for the GameCube library, which was last updated in March with Pokemon XD. Hopefully the wait won't be as long for more titles, as I really want them to add Double Dash already. On the topic of the VB games, I've actually played Zero Racers, and I'll be talking about it in my upcoming Play Log if you wanna know my thoughts >:).
I did write about this though, so check that out if you'd like! Ignore the date on it, I totally didn't wait all weekend to write it, haha, totally...
NINTENDO MUSIC
It's been another solid month for Nintendo Music enthusiasts such as myself. Between a pair of special releases, the continued rollout of the Mario Kart World OST, the arrival of another Switch 2 blockbuster's full soundtrack, and a handful of soundtracks from a platform I NEVER would've expected to see on this service, the month of July featured several meaningful expansions of the service's ever-growing offerings. Here's a recapped rundown of everything that was added this month:
- [Special Release] Rhythm Heaven Groove (July 1st, 2026)
- Mario Kart World Free Roam with Super Mario World, Super Mario Land, Super Mario Land 2 - 6 Golden Coins, and Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (July 6th, 2026)
- "Summer" Curated Playlist's Cover Updated (July 8th, 2026)
- F-Zero 99 (July 9th, 2026)
- Mario Kart World Free Roam with Mario Paint, New Super Mario Bros., New Super Mario Bros. Wii, New Super Mario Bros. U, and Super Mario Maker (July 13th, 2026)
- Donkey Kong Bananza (July 16th, 2026)
- Mario Kart World Free Roam with Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (July 20th, 2026)
- [Special Release] Splatoon Raiders (July 22nd, 2026)
- Mario Kart World Free Roam with Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Donkey Kong Country, Luigi's Mansion, WarioWare, Inc: Mega Microgame$!, and Flipnote Studio (July 27th, 2026)
- Galactic Pinball, Mario Clash, Mario's Tennis, Teleroboxer, and Virtual Boy Wario Land (July 30th, 2026)
Another super busy month! However, with Mario Kart World's soundtrack reaching completion, things could slow down again in the coming months if we are to revert to a single drop per week. Let's enjoy the two drops a week era while it lasts.
EVENTS
There were a handful of noteworthy in-game events that went down in July. While this is far from a comprehensive list, I tried to hit as much as I could, without overly bloating this section.
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Tetris 99 Star Fox Maximus Cup Announced (July 6th, 2026)
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Tetris 99 Star Fox Maximus Cup Event Begins, Ran Through July 14th (July 10th, 2026)
Tetris 99 has been very active with events lately, with a bunch of titles such as Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, Kirby Air Riders, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book being represented as themes in the game. Star Fox (2026) is the latest example of this, and this theme is particularly cool in that it features unique music during matchmaking. I can't think of any other themes that do that, so that's pretty neat!
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Splatoon 3 x Splatoon Raiders Collaboration Splatfest Begins, Ran Through July 12th (July 10th, 2026)
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Team Power Emerges Victorious in Splatoon Raiders Collaboration Splatfest (July 12th, 2026)
Ahead of Splatoon Raider's release, a special Splatfest was held in commemoration of the game, pitting the three types of tanks, Speed, Power, and Tactical, against each other. Team Power ultimately came out on top, dropping my Splatoon 3 Splatfest record to a pitiful 1-25, as I went ride or die with Team Speed. That allegiance would end up translating to the actual game, as the Speed Tank has been by far my most used tank, and it isn't even close.
If you'd like to know the specifics of the Splatfest's results, you can view my post on the matter here.
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Donkey Kong Bananza Emerald Rush Event "Elephant Bananza Stampede" Begins, Ran Through July 21st (July 14th, 2026)
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Donkey Kong Bananza Emerald Rush Super Mario Collaboration Event Begins, Ran Through July 21st (July 14th, 2026)
I was on vacation for most of the time this event was ongoing, so I didn't get around to it unfortunately. I love the Emerald Rush events, as their pre-set nature turns the game into a minimaxing puzzle, where you can memorize the skills and goals that are available throughout a run and figure out the best method to quickly build yourself up to maximize your emerald gain. Some events are genuinely really tricky to earn all the rewards in, as you need a lot of emerald to get the final reward, I believe 1 million. It can be tricky yet incredibly satisfying to figure out the best way to reach that total in each event. I just wish they were around longer.
Running at the same time was the latest iteration of the Super Mario collab event, which reskins many elements of the mode to be Mario themed, and even has a unique music track! However, I'm a little disappointed this event seems to be the same every time, as the way they phrased it as running in 'waves' made it sound like there might be different content each time. Not sure what that would've looked like, but it would've been cool.
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Mario Kart World Open July 2026 Begins, Ran Through July 19th (July 18th, 2026)
I'm glad to see Mario Kart World consistently getting these kinds of online events, especially as support for the game seems to be finally ramping up with the new Knockout Tour Rallies at the start of the month. Didn't get to partake in this one, though, as I was still on vacation, but they're doing another one this month. I won't say no to an excuse to play Mario Kart World.
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Tetris 99 "Get select themes for two in-game tickets each!" Event Begins, Runs Through August 17th (July 24th, 2026)
After the Star Fox event, Tetris 99 wasn't done for the month, introducing a really cool limited time event that made a plethora of old event themes available in the shop for just 2 tickets a piece! While some more recent themes are absent, it appears that the first 41 event themes are a part of this event. As of the time of writing, the event is still ongoing, so go take advantage if you haven't already!
Check out more details here.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS AND LOOKING AHEAD TO AUGUST
As you can see, July was a fairly jam-packed month of news, releases, and events. But there are still some more stories and occurrences I'd like to touch upon before we look ahead to August (or what's left of August, considering it's already the 11th at the time of writing).
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Metroid Ravenous Leak (July 1st, 2026)
One of the more intriguing stories of the month came from the Brazilian Ratings Board, which posted a rating for a game called 'Metroid Ravenous' before it was swiftly taken down. The source of this leak likely means it is legit, and the title made me immediately assume it to be Metroid 6- in other words, the follow up to Metroid Dread. It's been nearly 5 years since Dread, so the timing lines up, and 'Ravenous' is a fitting subtitle story-wise going off of what happened in Dread.
I went into a lot more detail as to why I'm convinced this is Metroid 6 in my post on the topic, but be warned I do go into spoilers for Dread. Regardless, having recently finished Samus Returns and currently playing through Fusion, I'm absolutely in the mood for a new 2D Metroid, so this is huge if true, which I believe it likely is.
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Splatoon Raiders Ask the Developer Released (July 21st, 2026)
Sometimes, a new Nintendo release is accompanied by an 'Ask the Developer' column on their website, where the developers of a given game answer questions and go into some behind-the-scenes details on the making of their game. These almost always include really cool tidbits, sometimes showing early development footage (DK Bananza Goomba prototype my beloved). I only skimmed this one, so I don't remember anything in particular, but I recall some interesting stuff in there regarding Splatoon Raiders development as the first single player spinoff in the franchise. It's worth a read if you're curious!
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The Duskbloods Closed Network Test Registration Opens (July 22nd, 2026)
Finally, From Software opened registration for the Closed Beta of their upcoming Switch 2 exclusive, The Duskbloods. The Selection Announcement occurred last Friday, so if you signed up, you should know by now if you're in! The Closed Network Test for The Duskbloods goes down in late August, and hopefully we won't have to wait too long afterwards for some more public information on the game, especially with it still slated for 2026. Perhaps in the September Direct...
For more information, including specific dates and times for the Network Test, check out my post.
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Aaaaaaaand.... that's July 2026 in the world of Nintendo! Amidst a highly tumultuous month for the gaming industry at large, Nintendo continued doing their own thing, quietly putting out two really darn good games while everyone was busy screaming at Sony about discs.
Nintendo's output this month was really solid all around, between two brand new releases, a Switch 2 Edition of a massive RPG, and a Nintendo Classics drop, there wasn't a lot of dead air on Switch 2 this month. The fact that Rhythm Heaven Groove and Splatoon Raiders are both fantastic games is the cherry on top.
But, we now must turn our attention to August 2026, a month that is already a third over at the time of writing... oops. I promise I'll be more efficient on these in the future.
August is a fairly barren month in Nintendo's release calendar, with no major new title due for release. That doesn't mean there's nothing going on. We already had the Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave Direct last week, plus the release of Zero Racers and D-Hopper on Virtual Boy - Nintendo Classics, also last week. This coming week sees Super Mario Sunshine finally arriving on GameCube - Nintendo Classics, finally making all three of the 3D All-Stars games available outside of that collection... at least on Switch 2.
Pokemon Pokopia also received its first DLC, Bubbly Basin, which launched last Wednesday, the 5th.
We're not done with presentations this month, though, as Gamescom starts on the 27th, and will be accompanied by Gamescom Opening... Night Live........... zzzzzzzz...
Oh shoot sorry, I'm falling asleep just thinking of ONL.
Jokes aside, yeah, ONL is almost always the most skippable of Geoff Keighly's major trio of shows. There can be cool stuff here, but everytime I tune in to this one, I always end up incredibly bored by its conclusion. But don't worry, I'll watch it so you don't have to, and compile all the Nintendo related news into a post here afterwards.
In terms of presentation speculation, I think we get an Indie World this month. Yes, I'm aware I said that last month and was dead wrong, but it'll happen this time I SWEAR. The last one was in March, and I think it makes sense to do one a month ahead of a potential September Direct.
Speaking of that September Direct, should it happen, expect the rumor mill to start churning towards the end of the month and into September. You can typically tell when a Nintendo Direct is on the way when rumors start reaching a fever pitch.
August is also typically, as far as I remember, the month in which the second Pokemon Presents presentation of a given year would happen, should there be one (though, last year it was in July). However, with Pokemon Winds and Waves not due out until next year, I don't expect one. I think we'll have to wait until next year's Pokemon Day to start getting more information on the Gen 10 games, just like we did with Legends Z-A.
Not directly Nintendo related, but here's a personal one I'm watching regarding my most anticipated upcoming game, Kingdom Hearts IV. On August 15th, Disney and Square Enix will be holding a panel at D23, Disney's fan event, that looks to be a celebratory retrospective of the series in honor of its upcoming 25th anniversary. While nothing regarding IV has been confirmed or denied to be a part of this panel, with the recent reemergence of the game towards the end of June's Nintendo Direct (which I'm STILL reeling from) after four years of minimal updates following its reveal, I hope they follow that up by giving us something more to chew on at this panel. I'm not asking for a release date or a massive information blow out- just some new information or footage, maybe a story teaser of some kind. After the Direct trailer, I would prefer not to have to wait too long for more info, so I'll be keeping an eye on this panel in case something happens. If you're curious, it's currently scheduled for this Saturday, August 15th at 7:30PM EST.
For Nintendo Music, we've already gotten a few drops, including a couple more Mario Kart World drops, and a Special Release for Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. I expect that the Mario Kart World soundtrack will be finished off by the end of the month, likely in the next two weeks. Afterwards, I imagine we'll go back to one update a month, but I think it would be cool if they started rolling out the Super Smash Bros Ultimate soundtrack next, starting with the original music and adding remixes from different franchises every week. Also, it wouldn't surprise me if Nintendo drops a new update for Mario Kart World, with the next two Knockout Tour Rallys, alongside the final drop, whenever that happens. I also think we could be getting Star-Crossed World this month. It'll be turning a year old at the end of the month, so dropping the soundtrack around its first anniversary would be fitting given the trend set by Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. I also strongly believe that we'll get the Super Mario Sunshine soundtrack this week to go along with the game's arrival on Nintendo Classics. Other than that, though, I have no idea what to expect. Here's hoping for some fun, out of left field choices. I feel like we haven't gotten one of those in a while.
And while Nintendo may not have any major releases this month, there's still plenty coming out from third parties and indies, such as:
- Final Fantasy XIV Online (NS2, Square Enix, 8/4/2026)
- Big Walk (NS2, Panic/House House, 8/4/2026)
- Lies of P: Complete Edition (NS2, NEOWIZ, 8/5/2026)
- Console Archives: UFO -A day in the life- (NS2, HAMSTER, 8/6/2026)
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (NS2, Bethesda, 8/11/2026)
- EA Sports Madden NFL 27 (NS2, Electronic Arts, 8/13/2026)
- Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.2 (NS and NS2, Konami, 8/27/2026)
- Elden Ring Tarnished Edition (NS2, Bandai Namco/From Software, 8/28/2026)
- Captain Tsubasa II: World Fighters (NS, Bandai Namco, 8/28/2026)
Those are just the games that jumped out to me while scrolling the eShop, I'm sure there's plenty of deserving games I missed. But this is a pretty solid lineup, featuring one of the most popular MMOs in the world making its Nintendo debut, some noteworthy ports and new releases, and Elden Ring, one of the first third party games announced for Switch 2, FINALLY arriving on the platform.
Of course, the release calendar is set to get even crazier in September as everyone tries to run for cover from Grand Theft Auto VI, which... oh yeah, we get to see gameplay of this month. Though, it's going to be exclusive to Netflix for 6 hours, which just doesn't sit right with me. In an increasingly monetized industry, game trailers are one of the few sacred things we have left. PLEASE do not let this become a common practice.
Aaaaaaaaand... that should do it! Again, I expect August to be a quieter month, the quiet before the storm, if you will. September has the potential to be a very exciting month, with a potential Nintendo Direct that could give us our first real glimpse at both the Ocarina of Time remake and the live-action Zelda movie, as well as showing us some of Nintendo's lineup for 2027.
Okay, whew, this one ended up being much longer than the previous roundup- sorry about that, I'm still figuring out the best way to do these. I do like the format I tried this time, but I'll probably need to trim the fat a bit going forwards, probably cut the events section out for starters. Regardless, it is fun to look back at everything that happened in a given month, so I'll continue doing these for sure. With enough time, I'll get it down. I also swear it won't take me as long to get them out in the future.
Maybe.
We'll see.


