Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Super Mario Bros., confirmed that a new 3D game in the franchise is in development for Switch 2. The statement was made to Casa Brutus magazine, where the developer pointed out that the mascot’s next adventure will follow the Super Mario Odyssey model. Contudo, no release date or specific production details have been released.
“With Super Mario Odyssey’s achievements, I think we got everything we wanted from Switch. Até now, we’ve released new games for each platform and I’m looking forward to seeing how the current team will handle it,” stated Miyamoto in an interview with the publication.
The nearly decade-long gap between 3D titles
Super Mario Odyssey was released in 2017. Desde then, more than 9 years have passed without a new 3D game in the character’s main series. In October this year, the hiatus will complete a decade, becoming the longest gap ever recorded between two three-dimensional titles in the franchise. The previous record was 6 years old, between Super Mario 64 (1996) and Super Mario Sunshine (2002).
Essa prolonged wait reflects changes in the development cycle of major video game studios. Current projects require more time, resources and people involved compared to previous industry launches.
Cronograma release still undefined
Miyamoto’s positioning neither confirms nor denies rumors of a 2026 launch. However, analysis of the team’s recent track record suggests an extended timeline. The same developer responsible for Super Mario Odyssey worked on Donkey Kong Bananza, released in 2025. Large-scale concurrent Projetos is rare at top-tier studios, which indicates that the new title may take additional years to reach the market.
If the same team is leading the project, experts estimate a wait of 4 to 5 years until launch. Isso would place the game in a period between 2029 and 2031, depending on the speed of production and possible delays.
Outras developers may be involved
Embora, Odyssey’s studio is a natural candidate, Nintendo works with multiple production companies in parallel. Qualquer one of them could lead the development of the new Super Mario 3D:
- Monolith Soft (no RPG release since 2023)
- Bandai Namco (contributor on exclusive titles)
- Koei Tecmo (developer of large productions Nintendo)
- Ubisoft (partner in exclusive projects)
- Outras first-party and third-party of Big N
The possibility of another developer having the project in hand opens up scenarios where the schedule could be different from that estimated for the Donkey Kong Bananza team. Parcerias between studios can speed up or slow down development depending on the complexity of the title.
Contexto of Switch 2 and market expectations
The confirmation comes at a strategic time for Nintendo. The Switch 2 represents the company’s next generation of hardware, and the presence of a new Super Mario is considered essential for the launch or first years of the platform’s life. Historicamente, the franchise is one of the biggest catalysts for console sales.
Miyamoto emphasized the importance of exploring the new machine’s technical capabilities, suggesting that the game will take advantage of features that the original Switch did not offer. The creator reinforced his enthusiasm to see how the team will deal with the transition of hardware generations.