Super Mario Odyssey marks its ninth anniversary on October 27, 2026. Since the game's release in 2017, Nintendo has not launched a new major mainline 3D Mario title, making this nine-year gap the longest wait for a mainline entry in the series to date.
For comparison, Super Mario 64 was released in 1996, and the next related title did not arrive until Super Mario Sunshine in 2002, a gap of about six years. The interval between Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario Odyssey was approximately four years.
Rumors currently suggest that the next 3D Mario game may launch in 2027, though this timeline has not been confirmed. Super Mario Odyssey was revealed about a year before its official release; if Nintendo follows a similar promotional cycle, the new title would need to be unveiled soon. However, Nintendo is under no obligation to repeat the promotional strategies of past titles.
Regarding the extended development cycle, the ComicBook author offered two possible explanations: the general increase in game production times across the industry, and the fact that at least part of the relevant team's time was devoted to Donkey Kong: Banana Rumble. These points are the author's analysis and not official statements from Nintendo; as of now, the next major mainline 3D Mario title has not been officially announced.