In an interview with Variety held in honor of the theatrical release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Shigeru Miyamoto hinted that a new Super Mario game may be well in the works. In response to a question on the future of the Super Mario series, Miyamoto gestured enigmatically and answered, with an almost knowing laugh, "Well, all I can say is please stay tuned for future Nintendo Directs."It has been two years since the launch of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, and while Nintendo has released several series spin-offs in this time, fans are more eager than ever to see the moustachioed plumber in an all-new mainline outing — which, arguably, he has not had since 2017's Super Mario Odyssey.

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During an interview with IGN held in February this year, Miyamoto reassured fans that Nintendo is "always working on Mario", but the company has revealed nothing concrete as yet. Further, it is not known exactly when the next flagship Nintendo Direct will be broadcast. While Nintendo tends to pepper various Directs of various sizes throughout the year — from partner showcases to presentations of a singular focus — if the frequency of previous broadcasts is any indication, then the next 'big' Nintendo Direct could be as late as August.

Realistically, with Nintendo currently focused on the impending launch of The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom — and Miyamoto himself occupied with the release of Illumination Entertainment's The Super Mario Bros. Movie, not to mention the upcoming Pikmin 4 — there is no guarantee that the next Super Mario game will necessarily be revealed in the very next Nintendo Direct. Miyamoto's wording does, after all, leave open the possibility that it may still be a few Nintendo Directs yet before Mario's new outing is fully unveiled.

With Universal Studios Hollywood having officially opened its Super Nintendo World area as of February 17 this year, The Super Mario Bros. Movie now screening in theaters, and now the tease of a new Super Mario title, 2023 is shaping up to be a sizable year for the so-called Koopa stomper.

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