Nintendo confirms Summer of Play amidst Direct rumors

The Summer of Play

is more than a gaming event. It offers a host of themed activities and photo opportunities. Visitors can snap pictures with Animal Crossing's Tom Nook and Isabelle or pose with

Pokémon

from the latest releases like Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet.

Every participant receives a 'Nintendo Summer of Play passport', which it can stamp for every activity completed. Those who fill their passports are rewarded with goodies, and My Nintendo account holders are given 100 My Nintendo Platinum Points with a free gift while supplies last.

The ongoing event will make its way across the country until late August, with its final stop being Santa Monica Place in Santa Monica, California, from August 25 to 28. Nintendo has hinted that it might add one more city to the itinerary, which would presumably fit into the gap between its Austin and Denver events.

Unfortunately, Summer of Play isn't a Direct showcase, nor even a smaller one. This uncharacteristic lack of news from the console manufacturer has some fans itching to find out what lies beyond Pikmin 4, which drops on July 21, for the Nintendo Switch.

If you ask Jeff Grubb and NateTheHate2, a new Direct could happen later this week, but another source claims that it might be a "Mini" event similar to last year's presentation.

Either way, this news is exciting for Nintendo Switch owners given the lack of new titles slated for the console schedule for the rest of the year. Nintendo might have reassured players that several third-party titles are on their way in the upcoming months. Not to mention, it didn't ramp up production of its console earlier this year for no reason. But, as they say, to see is to believe.