Mario has come a long way since his days of carpentry and duking it out against a barrel-tossing gorilla. In his latest grand adventure, he partnered up with an anthropomorphic hat to stop the villainous King Bowser from marrying Princess Peach. Like Mario’s other 3D platformers, Super Mario Odyssey was a step away from his side-scrolling roots and promoted exploration and immersion into vibrant, secret-laden worlds. Of course, fans were enamored, so it makes sense that Nintendo would revisit the concepts behind Odyssey for a sequel.
However, there’s quite a bit of mystery enshrouding Super Mario Odyssey 2. Let’s take a deep dive into what we do know about Mario’s next exploit, from where it’s releasing to who we can expect to see joining the red-clad hero.
When Will Super Mario Odyssey 2 Be Released?
As of September 2023, Nintendo hasn’t so much as whispered the existence of a Super Mario Odyssey 2, so the release window is looking more like late 2024 or 2025 (if at all). Even if Nintendo announces Odyssey 2 sometime in Q4 2023, when Odyssey was first revealed in January 2017, it still took ten months before the game launched.
In 2021, a known leaker posted potential leaks of Odyssey 2 concepts to 4chan. The leak was accompanied by information about a Sonic the Hedgehog concept that could have been an early idea for Sonic Frontiers, which was released in November 2022, lending potential credibility to the leak.
A possible 2025 release date for Odyssey 2 also means the game could be a launch title for the rumored Switch follow-up that was said to have been demoed at Gamescom 2023.
Who Will Be Joining Mario in Super Mario Odyssey 2?
If we’re to go based on the 2021 4chan leak, it sounds as if Mario and Cappy won’t be alone on their next trek. Luigi and “Cappy’s best friend Bowler” will come along for the ride, suggesting a possible multiplayer aspect that would be a little more robust than the online component of Super Mario Odyssey.
The leak went on to talk about Yoshi and others being able to “join your party.” While Mario usually ventures out alone in this 3D platformer, Super Mario 3D World proved that a multiplayer format could work, and Peach, Toad, and other denizens of the Mushroom Kingdom could make a playable appearance in Odyssey 2.
What Kind of Game is Super Mario Odyssey 2?
If there’s one thing players can count on, it’s that Super Mario Odyssey 2 would most definitely be a platformer. There’s no reason why Nintendo would stray now, especially with the massive success of other Mario platformers like Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Sunshine.
While it’s unlikely the basic formula will change much for Odyssey 2, there are sure to be some new mechanics to build upon the enemy-controlling antics of its predecessor.
Who is Developing Super Mario Odyssey 2?
Nintendo put its Entertainment Planning & Development Division (EPD) in charge of Odyssey, and it’s more than likely the same studio that would head Odyssey 2. Nintendo EPD has had a significant role in building up the Nintendo Switch’s library, having either developed or co-developed titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Pikmin 4, Metroid Dread, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Super Mario 3D All-Stars. There’s no reason to think it wouldn’t also be tapped to strengthen any future Nintendo consoles and AAA releases.
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