The first Nintendo Direct aired on October 21, 2011, during the height of the 3DS and the peak days of the Wii. The Wii U was still a few years away and Nintendo started using the Direct format as a way to get news and updates to their fans instantaneously, and in a pretty innovative way. The concept would go on to influence their competitors, as Sony and Microsoft would cultivate their own Direct-style video presentations over the years, but one of the best parts of the format was the magic of the reveal.