Nintendo eShop Maintenance Fuels Rumored Direct Speculation

Nintendo has announced a planned maintenance period for the eShop, which is a strong indication of when the rumored July 2025 Direct will take place, as the service typically shuts down around these events.

There have been various rumours regarding a Nintendo Direct taking place toward the end of July 2025, when Donkey Kong Bananza was finally released. Following the recent Pokémon Presents event, which lacked any noteworthy announcements, the onus is on Nintendo to ensure that the Switch and Switch 2 have a successful year.

If there is a Nintendo Direct in July 2025, it must come quickly, as the clock is ticking. The anticipated timeframe could have been indicated via an announcement on the official Japanese website, which confirmed forthcoming improvements to the eShop, possibly related to the Direct.

Nintendo Direct Likely Set for Thursday, July 2025

Nintendo has scheduled eShop maintenance for both Switch systems from Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 11:00 PM to Thursday, July 31, 2025, 12:30 AM Pacific Time.

Traditionally, the eShop shuts down for maintenance soon before major events, most notably Nintendo Directs. This will likely accommodate any games that are shadow-dropped, as well as pre-orders for games with release dates.

Given that games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment have yet to receive a release date, it's past time that they were given one. The Nintendo Switch Online GameCube app is likewise overdue for some new announcements, having only added one additional game since its introduction.

Whatever the case, the Switch 2 needs another Direct. The first batch of titles has arrived, and it's time to learn more about what Nintendo has planned, particularly for 2026 and beyond.