Closing out today’s Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase was an unexpected series revival – provided you didn’t get sucked into the frenzy of Nintendo Direct “leaks” (ranging from “wrong” to actually correct) and speculation. The Endless Ocean series isn’t dead in the water, as Nintendo is publishing its next entry – Endless Ocean Luminous.
The timing couldn’t be better, as tomorrow marks the 14th anniversary of the North American release of Endless Ocean: Blue World (also known as Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep in Japan and Europe). Yet, with a 14-year gap between sequels, there’s a chance this will be the first Endless Ocean game for many.
The Endless Ocean series has always been about exploring the ocean’s depths, finding a variety of marine life, swimming with a dolphin buddy (yes, you read that right), and more. For Endless Ocean Luminous, the main theme of exploration is front and center. Players can swim through the Veiled Sea (no relation to the massive ocean of the same name in World of Warcraft) and, according to Nintendo, it “changes with each expedition”. You can explore the deep on your own or with up to 30 players online (if you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership) searching for over 500 species of marine life.
Unfortunately, there isn’t any mention of Endless Ocean Luminous having a main game/storyline or aquarium features that the two previous Endless Ocean games had. (As well as whether or not some marine life will attack you if you get too close, but that mechanic was only available in Endless Ocean: Blue World.) So for longtime fans of the series, you might want to prep yourself for those features not making the final cut.
Luckily, we won’t have to wait too long for more information, as Endless Ocean Luminous will be launching on Nintendo Switch on Thursday, May 2nd, 2024. Digital pre-orders are currently available on the Nintendo eShop. As for a physical edition, it does exist, but so far GameStop is the only retailer to list it for pre-order.
Screenshots
Leave a Comment
Written by Jennifer Burch
Illustrator, designer, writer and big Nintendo geek, you can find Jennifer with an N3DS within reach 24/7. As the oldest of three, she has survived many Mario Party, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart sessions intact in addition to getting her brothers hooked on some really weird games. (Cubivore anyone?)
