Kingdom Hearts has always been PlayStation territory.
On June 10, Nintendo drew back the curtain on an ambitious eighteen-month vision, revealing not merely a list of games but a declaration of intent: that the Switch 2 would become the gravitational center of major gaming franchises. The resurrection of Kingdom Hearts after years of silence, the remaking of one of gaming's most revered adventures, and a catalog of over thirty titles together suggest a company that sees this moment not as a transition, but as an arrival.
- Kingdom Hearts IV ends a seven-year franchise silence, dropping Sora into a modern city with new allies and the same Heartless menace — and it arrives at Switch 2 launch.
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a title that redefined what games could be in 1998, is being fully remade for 2026, raising the stakes for what 'remake' can mean on new hardware.
- A Kingdom Hearts Collection bundles three major entries for October 8 at $74.99, with loyalty discounts and an exclusive keyblade sweetening the deal for returning fans.
- Final Fantasy Resonance, Xenoblade remasters, a new Star Fox, Deltarune Chapter 5, and 30+ additional titles signal that Nintendo is not filling a calendar — it is building a fortress.
- The presence of historically PlayStation-aligned franchises on Switch 2 marks a quiet but significant realignment of where third-party publishers believe their audiences now live.
Nintendo's June 10 Direct was less a routine showcase than a statement of platform ambition, laying out more than thirty titles across 2026 and 2027 and signaling that the Switch 2 intends to be the primary home for major gaming franchises.
The most anticipated reveal was Kingdom Hearts IV, the first mainline entry since 2019's third installment ended with Sora's sacrifice. The new chapter wakes Sora in a contemporary urban setting, reuniting him with familiar companions while introducing new Final Fantasy characters and Heartless enemies reimagined for modern streets. First announced in 2022, the Direct offered the first real look at the game in motion. No release date was given beyond a Switch 2 launch window. Accompanying it, the Kingdom Hearts Collection arrives October 8, 2026, bundling the HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX, the 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III with Re Mind DLC for $74.99, with a discount for existing cloud version owners and an exclusive keyblade for the platform.
Nintendo also confirmed a full remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Switch 2 in 2026. The 1998 original — in which Link travels through time to stop Ganondorf from seizing Hyrule — remains one of gaming's most influential works, and the trailer, though brief, showed Link in a design faithful to the source.
Final Fantasy Resonance, adapted from the now-shuttered mobile game Brave Exvius, follows warriors Rain and Lasswell as they investigate a shattered magical barrier, survive a devastating encounter with the armored Veritas of the Dark, and set out to prevent the destruction of the world's elemental crystals. It launches October 22 on both Switch and Switch 2.
The broader slate — Xenoblade remasters, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, Splatoon Raiders, Deltarune Chapter 5, and more — paints a picture of a platform Nintendo is betting on heavily. That a franchise long associated with PlayStation is now anchoring a Nintendo launch speaks to a shifting landscape, one where the Switch 2 is positioning itself not as an alternative but as the destination.
Nintendo held court on June 10 with a livestreamed Direct presentation that laid out the company's vision for the next eighteen months of gaming. The announcements were substantial enough to reshape expectations around what the Switch 2 would become: not just an incremental upgrade, but a platform capable of drawing major franchises into its orbit.
The centerpiece was Kingdom Hearts IV, the long-gestating fourth chapter in Square Enix's action-RPG saga. The series had been dormant since 2019, when the third installment concluded with Sora's sacrifice. The new game picks up with Sora waking in a contemporary urban landscape, reunited with his familiar companions but thrust into unfamiliar terrain. The footage shown during the Direct revealed combat against the series' signature Heartless enemies, now inhabiting this modern setting alongside a roster of new Final Fantasy characters. Kingdom Hearts IV was first announced in 2022, but the Direct offered the first substantive look at what the wait had produced. No firm release date was given, though Nintendo confirmed the game would be available when the Switch 2 launches. The announcement also included Kingdom Hearts Collection, a compilation arriving October 8, 2026, bundling three earlier entries: the HD 1.5+ 2.5 ReMIX, the HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III with its Re Mind DLC. The collection carries a price tag of $74.99, with existing owners of the cloud versions eligible for a discounted upgrade and a platform-exclusive keyblade called "Long Night."
Alongside Kingdom Hearts, Nintendo revealed a full remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Switch 2. The original, released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998, had become one of gaming's most influential titles—a sprawling adventure in which Link moves through time to prevent the sorcerer Ganondorf from reshaping Hyrule. The remake was confirmed for 2026, though a specific month was not provided. The trailer offered limited detail beyond a glimpse of Link in costume reminiscent of the original game's design.
Final Fantasy Resonance rounds out the major announcements. The game draws its narrative from Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius, a mobile title that has since shut down. The story follows Rain and his childhood friend Lasswell, dispatched to investigate the collapse of a magical barrier protecting the Earth Shrine. Upon arrival, they encounter a dark-armored antagonist known as Veritas of the Dark, who defeats them decisively, shatters the Earth Crystal, and lays waste to their homeland. The pair narrowly escape and rescue a mysterious girl named Fina, then embark on a quest to stop Veritas from destroying the remaining elemental crystals and unleashing an ancient destructive force. Final Fantasy Resonance is scheduled for October 22 on both Switch and Switch 2.
Beyond these three headliners, Nintendo announced a staggering roster of additional titles spanning the remainder of 2026 and into 2027. The slate includes remakes and remasters—Xenoblade Chronicles across three editions, Rayman Legends Retold, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2—alongside new entries in established franchises like Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, Splatoon Raiders, and Dragon Quest Monsters. Smaller releases and updates pepper the calendar: Deltarune's fifth chapter arrives June 24, Rhythm Heaven Groove on July 2, Star Fox exclusively on Switch 2 on June 25. The breadth suggests Nintendo is positioning the Switch 2 not as a niche platform but as the primary home for major publishers' output across 2026 and 2027.
What emerges from the Direct is a picture of a company confident enough to anchor its near-term strategy on a single device. The Kingdom Hearts announcement alone—a franchise that has historically belonged to PlayStation—signals a shift in where major third-party publishers see their audience. The Zelda remake, meanwhile, represents Nintendo's willingness to revisit its own history with substantial resources, suggesting the company believes there is still untapped potential in its back catalog. Whether this confidence proves justified will depend on execution and the Switch 2's actual performance in the market, but the Direct made clear that Nintendo is betting heavily on the platform's ability to draw and retain players across the next two years.
Citações Notáveis
Following Sora's ultimate sacrifice at the end of Kingdom Hearts III, he awakens alongside his familiar companions in a brand-new, modern city setting.— Nintendo Direct presentation
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why does Kingdom Hearts IV matter so much to Nintendo right now? It's not their franchise.
It's not, but it's a statement. Kingdom Hearts has always been PlayStation territory. Getting it at launch on Switch 2 signals that major publishers see the new hardware as worth prioritizing. It's a vote of confidence.
And the Zelda remake—why now? Why Ocarina of Time specifically?
Ocarina of Time is the most beloved Zelda game ever made. Remaking it for Switch 2 is Nintendo saying: we have the resources and the platform to do this right. It's also a way to fill the launch window with something fans already know they want.
There are thirty-plus games announced. Doesn't that dilute the impact of any single one?
It does and it doesn't. Yes, there's a lot of noise. But the sheer volume tells you something: Nintendo isn't worried about scarcity. They're confident the Switch 2 will move units, so publishers are committing. That's different from the original Switch launch.
What about Final Fantasy Resonance? That seems like an odd choice—adapting a dead mobile game.
It's a calculated risk. The mobile game had a dedicated audience. By bringing it to console with a full story, they're giving those players a proper home for the IP while introducing it to people who never touched the mobile version. It's mining existing goodwill.
Is there anything surprising about what's *not* announced?
The absence of a new Metroid or F-Zero is notable. But Nintendo is clearly prioritizing third-party partnerships and remakes over new first-party IP right now. That's a different strategy than they've used before.
What does this lineup tell you about where gaming is headed?
That the console wars are narrowing. If Switch 2 can secure Kingdom Hearts and these other major titles, the question of which platform to develop for becomes simpler. It's consolidation around the strongest hardware.