New Nintendo Leak Is Bad News For Super Mario Odyssey 2
Cue Mario's iconic wailing because our latest Super Mario Odyssey update isn't the one you're looking for. Up there with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, 2017's Super Mario Odyssey is one of the Nintendo Switch's flagship titles. So... where's the sequel?
Back when Mario was just a fresh-faced plumber, you'll remember retro classics like Super Mario Bros. and its various sequels. These were followed by standalone favourites like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine before it was back to creating a franchise with the two Super Mario Galaxy games. Instead of going somewhere new, Super Mario Odyssey 2 was always likely.
What's Going On With Super Mario Odyssey 2?
In 2019, we wrote off an impressive leak that claimed Super Mario Odyssey 2 would finally add a playable Luigi, a new hat character called Bowler, and plenty of Yoshi. This resurfaced alongside the announcement of Sonic Frontiers, and if the title has been in the works for the past three years, you might expect a big update in 2022.
Now, there's big news that Nintendo is really to announce a Mario game this year. While you might already be doing Mario's signature backflip, hold onto your mushrooms because it might not be all it's cracked up to be. Trusted insider LeakyPandy says it's true that a big Mario title will be revealed in 2022.
The problem is, fellow gaming fanatic Zippo claims a new Mario sports game is on the docket for this year. In Zippo's blog, they say, "I've heard that there is another Mario sports game in development. This time developed by Bandai Namco, who's last installment in the world of Mario sports games was Mario Sports Superstars for the 3DS, where they handled the Soccer and Baseball sections. I do not know the sport that they're tackling at this very moment."
According to Zippo, it's likely that we'll return to Mario Baseball for the first time in 15 years. They also noted that Mario Kart Tour included some baseball-themed outfits as another possible connection.
What Does This Mean For Super Mario Odyssey 2?
2022 is jam-packed with games, and Nintendo is no exception. Alongside the release of Pokemon Legends: Arceus in a matter of days, there's Kirby and the Forgotten Land in March, and a hopeful release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 at some point.
There's definitely room to announce Super Mario Odyssey, but it remains to be seen whether it will happen. Even though Nintendo isn't the best at addressing leaks, whispers of an upcoming Nintendo Direct could shed some light on things. Finally, it's been just over five years since Nintendo announced the OG Odyssey.
Let's also remember 2022 is when the new Super Mario Movie is coming out with Chris Pratt as the lead. We can definitely imagine a Super Mario Odyssey announcement going hand in hand with a first-look trailer, but for now, we're banished to Big Boo's Mansion.
