Nintendo’s most iconic franchise is set to make its debut on the Switchlater this yearwith the release ofSuper Mario Odyssey. Given that the system isn’t even a year old, it’s likely that we’ll see the portly plumber star in another adventure released for the console before its lifespan is up — but don’t expect that game to be a remake.
In a new interview discussingSuper Mario Odyssey, franchise creator and Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto discussed his thoughts on revisiting older games in the series. As it turns out, he doesn’t seem to have much interest in retreading old ground.
“I don’t really feel like I want to remake any of them,” said the designer. “It’s more natural to always create new mechanics and new games.” While a handful of Mario titles have been remade in the past, the likes ofSuper Mario 64 DSandSuper Mario Bros. Deluxeare the exception, rather than the rule.
FromMiyamoto’s perspective, it’s easy to see why the prospect of a remake doesn’t hold much interest. At 64, it’s likely that his career with Nintendo is winding down, so it makes more sense to focus on new experiences rather than returning to projects that he worked on years ago.
That said, it doesn’t seem impossible that a remake could go ahead without Miyamoto being at the helm. A game likeSuper Mario Sunshinecould benefit from the advantages of current hardware, and the project could be carried out by a trusted development studio, without making any major changes to gameplay.
At the end of the day, it’s good to see Miyamoto demonstrate such a clear focus on what’s next for Mario. Nintendo has often been criticized for failing to evolve its biggest franchises, butSuper Mario Odysseylooks tobreak a lot of new groundfor the series — and as a result, it’s surely one of the most hotly anticipated games of 2017.
Super Mario Odysseylaunches for the Nintendo Switch on July 27, 2025.
