Amidst the Nintendo Switch 2 hype, Nintendo has further ignited the excitement of fans by teasing a mainline Mario game. Since the next-gen Nintendo console was officially announced, the speculation about the upcoming gaming lineup has reached a new height.
Setting it to fire, Doug Bowser, President of Nintendo America, recently released a statement to advise enthusiasts to “stay tuned” for more information, indicating that there are probably significant announcements on the horizon.
It’s been more than seven years since the release of Super Mario Odyssey. After this game was released in 2017, the Super Mario series fans have been waiting for the next major journey. While titles like Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury offered fresh experiences, they didn’t mark a new chapter in the mainline series.
Previously, Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, hinted at an ongoing Mario game development. Aligning with his statement, Doug Bowser, during his recent interview with CNN, mentioned something similar. When asked about whether Mario games will hop on Switch 2 or not, he stated, “stay tuned.”
He further elaborated on his point and mentioned, “You know, we have a long, long catalogue,...that I'm sure will make its way to the platform.” The interesting part is that Bowser's comment coincides with the speculations that a new Mario title will be the flagship release for the console. Considering the eight-year gap, the anticipation of a new mainline adventure of Mario is palpable.
Scheduled to be launched on June 5, 2025, Nintendo Switch 2 is introducing a bunch of advancements over its predecessor. Starting from a 7.9-inch LCD screen, it will bring 256GB of storage and improved battery life to provide a seamless gaming experience. Additionally, this upcoming console will bring magnetically attached Joy-Cons with advanced functionalities like in-game chat options.
Up to now, the reports say, at launch this next-gen Nintendo console will offer titles like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bonanza, etc. These two games prominently show Nintendo's commitment to innovation and prioritizing gameplay evolution over traditional gameplay features.
Nintendo has a tradition of unveiling major titles along with new hardware releases. This strategy often helps it showcase the hardware capabilities and skyrocket sales. Nintendo Switch 2 is on the verge of hitting the global market with a range of advanced capabilities. So, a new mainline Mario game could easily serve this purpose.
A newly developed title with advanced technological features will highlight the enhanced capabilities of the next-gen hardware and also reassert Mario's dominant role in Nintendo's gaming universe. However, even without confirmation, only the hints have stirred the Nintendo Switch community, generating considerable excitement.