Super Mario Odyssey was released in October, after the Switch 1’s March launch, and given how closely Nintendo seems to be following the same formula for their new console it’s easy to imagine them launching the Switch 2 with Mario Kart 9 and then having a new Super Mario out in time for Christmas.
There is another theory though and while it has nothing to back it up, other than the unexpected remake of Mario Vs. Donkey Kong last year, it is a compelling idea: what if the new 3D Mario and the rumoured new Donkey Kong were one and the same game?.
The Rare influenced Donkey Kong Country Returns was recently remastered, so Nintendo hasn’t completely retconned the old games, but his new look can clearly be seen in the Mario Kart Nintendo Switch 2 footage.
The developers of Sony’s exclusive went out of their way to acknowledge their debt to Nintendo, in their The Game Awards acceptance speech, but for many that have never played a modern 3D Mario game Astro Bot is their only experience of a modern, high quality 3D platformer.
It’s unclear what form a new Donkey Kong game might take, especially given he’s had a recent makeover – starting with his appearance in the Super Mario Bros. movie – that is closer to his original look and less like his 90s era Rare design.
