This is weird - I have a bunch of Nintendo news to report, but no Nintendo Direct video to embed. Well, here goes: Star Fox Zero is finally cleared for takeoff on November 20 in North America and Europe. The release date was revealed in a Nintendo press release that also locked down the schedule for several other games, including Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, which will release on the same day as Star Fox in Europe (the North American date remains Holiday 2016).
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water will hit Wii U on October 22 in North America, and as Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water on October 30 in Europe. Nintendo has no plans for a retail release in North America; instead you'll be "free to start" the game's first few chapters through an eShop download, with the rest available as a $49.99 DLC purchase. The Japanese version takes up 15.9 GB when installed, so plan accordingly if you want to fit all that ghost portraiture action on your internal storage.
Meanwhile, the 3DS' release lineup plugged in Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash for October 9 in North America. If you prefer your handheld games to involve the acquisition of monster friends, Yo-Kai Watch will launch on November 6 and Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon will follow on November 20.
Wii U
• Super Mario Maker - Sept. 11
• Yoshi's Woolly World - Oct. 16 (NA)
• Fatal Frame/Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water - Oct. 22 (NA), Oct. 30 (EU)
• Star Fox Zero - Nov. 20
• Xenoblade Chronicles X - Dec. 4
• Devil's Third - Dec. 11 (NA)
3DS
• Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer - Sept. 25 (NA), Oct. 2 (EU)
• Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash - Oct. 9 (NA)
• The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes - Oct. 23
• Yo-Kai Watch - Nov. 6
• Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon - Nov. 20 (NA)
It's sad to think that we probably would have gotten all this news in a fun little Nintendo Direct presentation - probably with an encore appearance from those Star Fox and Nintendo executive muppets - if not for Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata passing away in July. We'll be feeling his absence in many little ways for a long time to come.
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