Both big platform shows are behind us. Nintendo ran a general Direct on September 9, a day after a separate Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct, and Sony ran State of Play plus State of Play Japan on September 3. What is left in 2026 is a run of trade shows, Steam Next Fest on October 19 and The Game Awards on December 10.
What the September 9 Nintendo Direct settled
The Direct leaned on Switch 2. Nintendo's own recap dates Metroid Ravenous for January 28, 2027, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis for February 12, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity - Definitive Edition for February 25 and Persona 4 Revival for May 20. Kirby and the World Beyond is a Switch 2 exclusive due in spring 2027, the series' 35th anniversary year. Persona 6 appeared next to Persona 4 Revival, but Nintendo gives it no date.
Nearer releases are easier to plan around. Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition arrive digitally on Switch 2 on October 16. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves and Nintendo Switch Sports Resort follow on October 22, and Monster Hunter Wilds reaches Switch 2 on December 4. Our Monster Hunter Wilds Switch 2 guide covers its price. Danganronpa 2x2 lands on January 14, 2027, and the Wilds expansion, Ascendance, is a separate 2027 release.
The Zelda Direct on September 8 covered the series' 40th anniversary. Nintendo's news page lists a remake of Ocarina of Time for Switch 2 on November 5 and a Switch 2 Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition system a week earlier, on October 29, plus concerts and a live-action film.
What State of Play settled
Sony put two shows back to back on September 3. PlayStation Blog's recap counts over 30 games, lists them alphabetically and ends with Final Fantasy VII Revelation, which now has an April 8, 2027 release date on PS5. Nintendo's Direct gave the Switch 2 version the same day. The recap also dates the Crimson Desert expansion, Charting the Unknown, for October 15 on PlayStation Store.
A separate PlayStation Blog post dated September 28 says God of War Laufey is due on PS5 on February 16, 2027, with pre-orders open from September 29. That post is labelled for Southeast Asia, so check your own PlayStation Store for local availability.
The dates still ahead
These come from the organisers' own pages. PAX Aus runs October 9 to 11 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Brasil Game Show lists event hours from October 9 to 12. Steam Next Fest starts October 19 at 10:00 PT (17:00 UTC) and ends October 26 at 10:00 PT, per Valve's Steamworks page. Because Europe leaves summer time on October 25, that closing hour is 17:00 in London and 18:00 in Berlin. Paris Games Week fills October 22 to 25 at Paris Expo, gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show runs October 29 to November 1 in Bangkok, and G-STAR runs November 18 to 22 at BEXCO in Busan. The Game Awards are listed for December 10.
- PAX Aus, Melbourne
- Brasil Game Show, Brazil
- Steam Next Fest, October edition: free demos, 10:00 PT (17:00 UTC) to 10:00 PT (17:00 UTC)
- Paris Games Week, Paris Expo
- gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show, Bangkok
- G-STAR 2026, Busan
- The Game Awards 2026
None of these is a Direct-sized event, so expect developer streams, hands-on previews and demo drops rather than big reveals. Steam Next Fest and Paris Games Week overlap from October 22 to 25, which makes that the busiest stretch on the calendar, and the in-person shows in Melbourne, Bangkok and Busan mostly matter if you live nearby or follow Asia-Pacific releases. Steam Next Fest is the most useful for most players because you can try games yourself. Our Steam Next Fest October 2026 guide has the schedule.
Reading showcase news without the noise
Showcases announce plenty that is a year or more away, and the September Directs show it: most of the dated Switch 2 items above are 2027. Note the platform and the year first. Check whether an item is a new game, a port or a re-release, since some Switch 2 items are ports or re-releases. Wait for the publisher's own trailer on its official YouTube channel rather than reaction clips, and save demo dates, since Next Fest lasts a single week.
Frequently asked questions
When was the last Nintendo Direct?
A general Nintendo Direct aired on September 9, 2026. Nintendo also held a Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct on September 8.
When was the last State of Play?
State of Play and State of Play Japan aired together on September 3, 2026, with more than 30 games shown.
When are The Game Awards 2026?
The Game Awards site lists December 10, 2026.
Which events let me play games rather than watch trailers?
Steam Next Fest (October 19 to 26) offers free demos at home. PAX Aus, Brasil Game Show, Paris Games Week, gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show and G-STAR are in-person shows.
