Nintendo used its June Direct presentation to spotlight two of its most important franchises, confirming new entries in both The Legend of Zelda and Mario series. The announcements give fans a clearer look at the company’s 2026 pipeline and underline how central the two brands remain to Nintendo’s lineup.

According to the presentation details, the new Zelda game is being developed as an open-world title and is targeting a November release window. Nintendo also introduced a new 2.5D Mario platformer, which is expected to arrive in September. Both projects appear positioned as major holiday-season releases.

The company did not share full gameplay breakdowns for either title during the event, but the reveal was enough to drive immediate attention across the gaming community. For Nintendo, the timing suggests a strategy focused on steady momentum heading into the end of the year with familiar franchises leading the charge.

The two announcements also reinforce Nintendo’s long-standing approach of balancing experimentation with recognizable series. While many details remain to be confirmed, the Direct made clear that Zelda and Mario will remain at the center of the publisher’s release calendar in 2026.