The potential release of a 3D Mario game for the Switch 2 might be delayed significantly, as industry insiders hypothesise that Donkey Kong Bananza could stem from the Super Mario Odyssey team's production line.
Title: Donkey Kong Bananza and the Long Wait for the Next 3D Mario
In yesterday's Donkey Kong Bananza Direct, it was clear that this upcoming Nintendo Switch 2-exclusive was nothing to sneeze at, but the question remains, who's coding this masterpiece within the grand walls of Nintendo? It's a hot topic, for sure, with Production Group No. 8, better known as EPD Tokyo, being the top contender due to the game's visual similarity to Super Mario Odyssey.
Kit Ellis, Nintendo of America's former director of social media marketing and original content, and Krysta Yang, the company's former senior manager of creator relations and original content, share the same sentiment. Speculation aside, these two marketing mavens suspect that EPD Tokyo is the brainchild behind Bananza. If their suspicions are correct, they warn that it might mean a long, lonely wait for the next 3D Mario game.
"They're the cream of the crop, don't get me wrong, but they ain't the speediest team out there," Ellis says. If EPD Tokyo is indeed the team behind Bananza, Yang speculates that "it'll probably be a late-generation or at least mid-generation game."
Nintendo must have a strategy, right? They wouldn't want to jeopardize their next 3D Mario masterpiece, so it's possible that they're waiting for that masterpiece to shine with all its polished glory. Problem is, we're already a few years into the Switch 2's lifecycle, and we've yet to hear a peep about the next mainline Zelda game or, you know, the next 3D Mario game.
Ellis likens this uncertain timeline to a "different path" and a "riskier" bet compared to the games that catapulted the Switch 1 into the hearts and hands of gamers in 2017.
Now, things might not look rosy with a possible multi-year wait for the next 3D Mario game, but hey, at least we have plenty of other Switch 2 games to keep us entertained in the meantime!
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-The Insert Coin Team
P.S. Donkey Kong Bananza hits Nintendo Switch 2 shelves on July 17, 2025.
[1] Donkey Kong Bananza release date: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong_Bananza#Release[4] Nintendo's role in development: https://www.nintendo.com/corp/info/developer/en/index_p.html[5] Gameplay features discussed: https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/donkey-kong-bananza-switch/
- The upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza, an exclusive title for the Nintendo Switch 2, showcases Nintendo's fruitful partnership with EPD Tokyo, the team suspected to be behind its development.
- Despite the excitement surrounding Donkey Kong Bananza, the awaited next 3D Mario game may face a potentially lengthy delay, given EPD Tokyo's reputation for meticulous work.
- In the bustling world of gaming technology, Nintendo's strategy of focusing on polished masterpieces like Donkey Kong Bananza might mean a prolonged wait for subsequent flagship games like the next 3D Mario.
- As information on the next mainline Zelda game and 3D Mario remains scarce, gaming enthusiasts are encouraged to keep their eyes on technology news and gadget deals for upcoming Switch 2 releases to keep them engrossed.
- Joining the Insert Coin Newsletter provides timely updates on gaming news, community happenings, and potential surprises, ensuring you are never far from the latest developments in the gaming world.
