The "one more thing" in Nintendo Directs is almost always saved for something big. A surprise reveal that no one saw coming. By that definition, Endless Ocean Luminous's reveal during February 2024's one more thing spot fits the description. There wouldn't have been many expecting to see Endless Ocean return after a 15-year hiatus, especially when the first two games in the series got middling reviews, but here we are.

If you're unfamiliar with Endless Ocean, the concept of the first two games, and the upcoming Luminous, revolves around the player assuming the role of a scuba diver and exploring the depths of the fictional oceans. In Luminous, that ocean will be the Veiled Sea. A fictional body of water brimming with real-life creatures, mythical beasts, and even a few underwater animals that are extinct in the real world. Hence why the research you'll conduct in Luminous is so pivotal as it may well fill in some important gaps science-wise.

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Other than some significant graphical and visual improvements over its predecessors as this is the first Endless Ocean game since the Wii, Luminous will boast an impressive multiplayer component. Whereas the original games only let you pair up with one other diver at a time, Luminous will let groups as big as 30 explore the depths together. The landscape beneath the waves will also change every time you explore them. The repetitiveness of the first two games was a big hang-up for a lot of players, so the promise of change each time you dive may well be the biggest upgrade of all.

Where To Pre-Order Endless Ocean Luminous

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Endless Ocean Luminous

Adventure Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 61/100 Critics Rec: 23% Released May 2, 2024 ESRB Everyone // Alcohol Reference Developer(s) Arika Publisher(s) Nintendo Multiplayer Online Multiplayer
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PHYSICAL

Endless Ocean Luminous is a game of exploration, with up to 30 scuba divers sharing a beautiful, persistent ocean with over 500 species of marine life to discover - both real and mythical.

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There will be more than 500 species of aquatic life waiting for you when Endless Ocean Luminous launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch on May 2, 2024, and if you're sold on the experience or you've been hoping the series might return for the last decade and a half, you can pre-order it now through the links above. Luminous will be available both digitally and physically, but there is no pre-order bonus for buying early, nor are there multiple editions to choose from, just the standard one.

Amazon has been canceling pre-orders for select upcoming Switch games but hasn't explained why, and Endless Ocean Luminous is among them. If pre-orders for the game return to Amazon, the option will be added to the box above.

Luminous will continue what is likely the last full calendar year before Nintendo releases whatever console will eventually replace the Switch. Endless Ocean's return might not be the game Switch owners are most looking forward to in the console's final year, but with the significant upgrades on the last installment in the series detailed, it sounds like a fun way to spend some of your final moments with the Switch. Especially diving with 29 other players as you explore the Veiled Sea together.

FAQ

What Time Will Endless Ocean Luminous Be Released?

Nintendo has not confirmed the exact time you will be able to start playing Endless Ocean Luminous. It will either be a worldwide release at midnight EST on May 2, or a staggered release where it launches at midnight local time in each timezone.

Is Endless Ocean Luminous Online Only?

There is no indication that you will have to be online to play Endless Ocean Luminous. While there's an option to play with as many as 29 other people, you can also explore its underwater landscape alone.

What Is The Endless Ocean Luminous Pre-Order Bonus?

Endless Ocean Luminous technically doesn't have a pre-order bonus, but the game does come with a seven-day free trial of Nintendo Switch Online.

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