Daily Briefing: Wednesday 17th February

Nintendo are holding an actual Nintendo Direct presentation today

The upcoming presentation, set to air today at 2pm PT/5pm ET/ 10pm GMT, will mark the first full Nintendo broadcast since September 2019 - that's nearly 18 months. Nintendo have stated the show will include 50 minutes of information on available games and games coming to Switch "in the first half of 2021."

• As you can imagine, hype is through the roof for this one. Anything could happen really but, with the series' 35th anniversary on the horizon, it's probably safe to assume Zelda will feature at some point. But hey, Hollow Knight is celebrating its fourth anniversary soon, isn't there a sequel in the works for that too?

Amazon's New World has been delayed again

This marks the third delay to Amazon Game Studios' upcoming MMO - which was originally slated to release last May before being pushed to August, then to early this year, and now to 31st August 2021. According to game director Scott Lane, the extra time will be used to add "a few very compelling features."

• In the meantime, New World's alpha will open European servers on March 30th. A closed beta, available to pre-order customers, will begin on July 20th and will allow players to sample some of the updates Amazon have been working on - including a new endgame area and 20 v. 20 stronghold battles. Amazon definitely need a win.

Reggie Fils-Aimé is less than enthused by all-digital E3 plans for 2021

Appearing on Gamertag Radio, the former Nintendo of America boss suggested that the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) will have to act fast if they wish to save E3, because the current plans for an all-digital showcase this year don't seem "all that compelling."

• While Reggie does feel that truly embracing a digital format is the way forward for E3, but there is still more to be done to win over publishers, developers, and fans alike. One idea that Reggie does support wholeheartedly is the proposal to have floor demos available to spectating fans - but he believes the ESA need to get it right or someone else will.

Dota 2 is getting the Netflix treatment

A new eight-episode anime series entitled Dota: Dragon's Blood will launch worldwide on March 25th, and is set to tell the story of "Davion, a renowned Dragon Knight devoted to wiping the scourge from the face of the world." Showrunners have said to expect an "epic, emotional, and adult-oriented story. "

• Netflix is all over the gaming adaptations at the minute - recently adding newly-announced Sonic the Hedgehog and Tomb Raider series to a pile of projects covering Assassin's Creed, Resident Evil, and Beyond Good & Evil. These all come after the success of The Witcher, which itself is receiving a standalone anime movie and a prequel spin-off.