Nintendo Direct Shows Robots Are Still Taking Over Games Too

Nintendo’s latest Direct was packed with big-name announcements, but tucked among the Switch 2 reveals were a few robot-relevant moments worth watching.

The presentation highlighted new and updated games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, KINGDOM HEARTS IV, Xenoblade Genesis, Star Fox, Splatoon Raiders, Pikuniku 2 and more. Nintendo said the Direct included new reveals, updates, demos and release windows across a wide range of franchises.

For Clanks, the most obvious robot connection is Splatoon Raiders. Nintendo describes the new single-player-focused adventure as a treasure-hunting story set on the Spirhalite Islands, where players explore alongside Deep Cut. During raids, a member of Deep Cut rides in an Exploration Bot, giving the game a very direct robot companion angle. Splatoon Raiders launches for Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23.

The Direct also included Pikuniku 2, a strange 3D puzzle-exploration adventure that Nintendo says includes rumors of “malevolent robot frogs” and an all-powerful potato. That may not be the most serious robotics development of the year, but it is exactly the kind of weird machine-adjacent detail Nintendo fans tend to remember. Pikuniku 2 is planned for Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.

Star Fox also made a return in the presentation, with Nintendo describing the new Switch 2 version as a cinematic take on Star Fox 64. While Star Fox is mostly about spacecraft and animal pilots, the series has always lived in that Nintendo zone where vehicles, machines, companions and futuristic tech blend together. The new version includes updated character designs, revamped stages, cutscenes, voice acting, an orchestral soundtrack, optional mouse-controlled targeting with Joy-Con 2 and online multiplayer. It launches June 25 for Nintendo Switch 2.

The broader takeaway is that robots and machines are still everywhere in gaming, even when they are not the headline. They show up as companions, enemies, vehicles, helpers, jokes and world-building details. In real life, robots are entering warehouses, factories, hotels, stadiums and homes. In Nintendo’s world, they are riding through ink-covered islands, showing up as suspicious frogs and helping keep sci-fi adventures moving.

The Direct may have been led by Zelda, Kingdom Hearts and Xenoblade, but the machines still found their way in.