Super Mario Odyssey Was Always Planned To Be Released On Switch

Kinda figured, to be honest. Thank goodness too. I hate when games are held back by last Gen consoles.

Pretty obvious but I wouldn't mind a dual release. Business is business though.

They would say that. Not saying it's a lie, not saying it's the truth. But, yes, possibly it was never intended for the Wii U but it most probably was made on the Wii U. Look at it sure, it's a bumped up Wii U game. Super Mario Odyssey started development back at the end of 2013, Nintendo wouldn't have had a clue about the spec for the Switch then, nor the controller interface, but they knew Wii U was dying at that stage, barring some major miracle, so they kept their options open. Wii U owners suffered and were deprived so Switch owners could reap the benefits.

Unlike BOTW, Nintendo never publicly announced SMO for the Wii U, so they never had to break any promise. I think SMO could run on the Wii U, no problem. Just some minor adjustments, like with BOTW. But it was too late to bother with a port by the time it released.

I would have loved to see it on the Wii U .... but then I'd have had no real reason to buy a Switch.

I do still feel slightly cheated that the Wii U never got a proper full fat 3D Mario game but Odyssey was well worth the wait. Super Mario 3D world just didn't do it for me and always felt like something was missing.

Umm kinda obvious but I guess people think it can run on the Wii U.

If they started in 2013 that means they had at least a general idea of when the Switch would be released. If the Wii U had been more successful would they still have released the Switch in 2017? Or would the game have been delayed for year even if it was finished?

No doubt Nintendo moved big future projects away from Wii U.

Smartest thing they could have done. Oddesy would have been a huge waste for a console that had no chance of being saved

"Would you have liked to see a version on Wii U, or do you think it is right that Nintendo fully shifted its focus to the Switch?"

No, and yes.
Wii U was a dying system, Nintendo was losing money, from a business prospective fully shifting focus to the Switch was the right decision.

@Marios-love-child Super Mario 3D World was that game.
it even has 3D in the title.

@vitalemrecords I don't like SM3DW and I don't consider it a proper 3D Mario game.

I honestly don’t know who thought it was a WiiU game, pretty obvious it uses a lot of Switch’s power and tech.

Oh, wait a minute I’m getting a foggy image... Yes, I remember a rant where he had proof that SMO was started on WiiU. Who was it though? Oh, that’s right, EIRE.

Humble pie for one

Wish I hadn’t muted him now.

@Marios-love-child I agree was a shame the WiiU didn't get a proper full-fat 3D Mario game like Galaxy. But there are a lot of games I wish had come to WiiU but I am glad it didn't as it seems to have revived Nintendo.

@vitalemrecords Super Mario 3D World was not a proper 3D Mario as it was an isometric 3D game and not a standard 3D format like the main series. I still think it was a good game but is not anywhere near the same level as odyssey.

@vitalemrecords

Just because it has 3D in the title doesn't make it a proper 3D game

I've always saw it as more of a 2D game in a 3D setting... (i'e get to the flag pole at the end within set time limit)

as @loyalroyal1989 said it's still a great game but I don't think it's game play is comparable to Odyssey

SMO was designed for the 3DS, after it's ported to the Switch you can't gauge the depth and distance without stereoscopic 3D. This makes the game annoying difficult to play, not to mention the constant need to adjust the camera...

Better destined there on Switch than to be forgotten on Wii U

@Marios-love-child I agree with your points. And like the 2D games you had to hold down a button to run. I hated that.

@vitalemrecords 3D World and 3D Land don't really count as 3D Mario games. They're more of a 2D Mario experience in a 3D plane

If Super Mario Odyssey was released on Wii U, it would be a Terrible idea. Because :
1. It will be LOCKED Region.
2. Will not save the Wii U sales that already in the Abyss.
3. Still make the Wii U gamepad Turn On, even we don't use it at all.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE

Yeah that was my main frustration with the game. even with the run button held down the game just felt too slow.

I enjoyed the game and I understand why people still love it but out of all the "3D" Mario games it has to be my least favourite

@Marios-love-child super mario 3d world was a good 2d mario game.

It shows, as a ground-up Switch game looks great and runs well too, but the effort has to be made to get there (Aka, don't pull an FE: Warriors)

Even if an all knowing being appeared and confirmed it was a Switch game from the beginning, some would still call Nintendo a liar

@MFD It's not "a grounds-up Switch game".

@SLIGEACH_EIRE How do you mean? Unlike Zelda: BotW, Odyssey wasn't targeted for Wii-U first, and unlike Xenoblade Chronicles 2, it isn't made on just an upgraded XCX engine.

The control scheme is so ingrained in motion controls throughout i would believe this was never intended for Wii U. Seems like such a big part of the game to just "patch on" to a Switch version.

@Marios-love-child on the contrary, I found 3D World to be the perfect mix of everything I expect going into a Mario game. I only reached this conclusion after having played Odyssey (a fine game in and of itself, just not what I want from a mindless Mario experience). Back in 2013 when 3D world first debuted, I felt slighted as I was still expecting Galaxy 3. But times and tastes change.

Also, 3D World was the first time in a long time I didn't have to save the damn princess again. So over that trope. I played the game as princess!

@SLIGEACH_EIRE They didn't announce it, but they did announced that Super Mario 3D World would be the last major title on the Wii U. So take that as you will.

We knew this ages ago. Soon after 3D World came out, Nintendo said they were working on the next Mario game and it wasn't for Wii U. I tried to do some digging, but I can't find the article, but I could have sworn this was old news way back in 2014 or so. If evidence is found that's different please share it with me cause I can't find it.

Koizumi really is an all-around cool guy, isn't he?

@gatorboi352

I take your point... as I've previously stated I don't think of it as a bad game, it's just that out of all of Mario's 3D outings that was probably my least favourite.

Going back to the Wii U, I actually enjoyed NSMBU a lot more than 3D world

I hope they actually port SM3DW to the Switch. That game was a blast and the multiplayer is perfect for the joycon set up.

Probably was originally planned for Wii U but because it flopped they switch development to Switch.

Hi nintendo fans, I have news about the Nintendo E3 2018 lineup,
It is about Nintendo Switch Games
1. Pikmin 4 (4th game of the Pikmin series)
2. Super Mario Maker 2 (Sequel for the Nintendo Switch)
3. Kid Icarus (Brand New Kid Icarus for the Nintendo Switch)
4. Yoshi (Announced at last year's E3)
5. Metroid Prime 4 (4th game from the Metroid Prime series)
6. Bayonetta 3
7. Luigi's Mansion 3 (Brand New Luigi Mansion for Switch)
8. Mario Party 11 (Brand New Mario Party for Switch)
9. Animal Crossing (Brand New Animal Crossing for Switch)
10. Pokemon (it is two versions and the 8th generation)
11. Fire Emblem (2018 Fire Emblem Game for the Switch)
12. Super Mario Galaxy 3 (New Super Mario Galaxy for Switch)
13. Sonic & Sega All-Star Racing (New Sonic Racing for Switch)
14. Wario & Waluigi (New Duo Adventure for Switch)
15. Mega Man 11 (Recently announced for the Switch)
16. Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Switch (The Ultimate Version of Super Smash Bros. for 2018, combining elements from Super Smash Bros. 3DS and Super Smash Bros. Wii U, including major new content and all DLC is included.)

@APlus Account created 20 minutes before your post. Sure, I believe you!

Actually? I wonder if when development of the game started, it was intended to be a Wii U game...

After playing Odyssey, which is a masterpiece, and getting 650 moons, i do look back on 3DW with even greater fondness. Its a pure platformer whereas I see SMO as more of an adventure/platformer. I felt far more challenged on a consistent basis in 3DW. Theres nothing like Champions Road in SMO for example. A lot of the special stages in 3DW are quite challenging to get all 3 green stars.

I love them both for different reasons.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE

I think most of the new Switch games could run on the Wii U, so what's your point exactly? BotW was always intended to be a Wii U game, since there was never a proper Zelda installment on the console, plus it was in development for such a long time. Mario got 3 main games, a 2D platformer, 3D World, and Mario Maker (if you count it as a main title). Zelda got 2 old ports until BotW came out. So even if it was true that it started as a Wii U game, it couldn't have been in development long because by early 2015 or so, Nintendo began the process of pushing back Zelda and for those of us who had some foresight knew that Nintendo was gonna do a double release on Wii U and NX (we didn't know it was the Switch then). I guarantee that's when Mario got moved too, and honestly, it may have gotten moved before that cause at least there was new Mario games for Wii U. To summarize, you might be right, at least initially, but we're talking a year of development on Wii U — tops.

Please click reply this time if you choose to respond — thanks in advance.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Just because the Switch and Wii U have similar specs doesn’t mean every major title for Switch started life on Wii U. The Wii and GameCube are similar internally and spec-wise, but nobody is making a case that Mario Galaxy was ever destined to be a GameCube game. And sure, they could dumb Odyssey down to make it run on Wii U, but judging from the frame rate and resolution compromises that BOTW on Wii U had, Odyssey would’ve been a far less pretty and fluid experience on Wii U. Sure, with compromises, you could probably get most (if not all) Switch games running on Wii U. I just find it kind of funny that you are so incredulous about an official statement from Nintendo just because it conflicts with things you’ve theorized in the past without evidence. There’s no real reason to believe that Odyssey started life on Wii U. And actually, everything lines up for Odyssey to be a Switch launch title, even if the Wii U had a full five year cycle on the market. If Nintendo launched the Switch in the fall of 2017 (five years after the Wii U), Odyssey would have launched with the system. It makes perfect sense.

Nintendo begins development of their launch titles long before new consoles hit shelves. And new consoles begin development almost immediately after their predecessors hit the market. Nintendo has been well aware of what the Switch could do for several years now. I’m sure Mario 64 began development years before 1996, but no one ever assumed that it was ever intended to be a SNES game.

Motion controls feel baked into the game's design. I don't see how it would have worked with the gamepad. I never bought that it was intended for the Wii U. Besides, the Wii U already had multiple Mario platformer releases (3DW, New SMB, and MM). It wouldn't have made sense to stack another on top that.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE "Super Mario Odyssey started development back at the end of 2013"

Do you have proof of that or is that just your own opinion?

@APlus The moment I saw Smash there I scrolled down. Not falling for that buddy. And that list is more of a wishlist than anything plausible or sensible. Try putting some effort and you'll hopefully be able to fool people.

@Captain_Gonru didn't realise that. Pardon my ignorance. Does the Wii U controller (the one with the screen) have any motion controls built in? Never owned Wii U myself.

I feel that 3D World was intended to be the Wii U's designated 3D game for the portly plumber. I found it to be a very enjoyable game, and this is from someone who has played all the 3D Mario games in some form barring Sunshine.

While it would have been cool to see Odyssey show up on the Wii , I think that it coming to the Switch worked out for the best.

@blockfight The GamePad has a gyroscope in it.

@JaxxDuffer It's a fact, Google it yourself.

Super Mario Odyssey could of came to the Wii U; not that I'm saying it should of but this game does not take much advantage of the Switch hardware.

Are some people stupid? Miyamoto himself said after 3D World came out that the WiiU isn't suited for a new 3D Mario and he will make one for the the next console. Who is stupid enough to think that Miyamoto stated this and then still would develope SMO for WiiU?

I beg to differ about this. We knew nothing about the Switch at the time of SM3DW’s Release or in 2014. That year I recall there being the Announcement that a New 3D Mario Game was in Development for the Wii U, unknown if it was a SMG3 or something new, but sadly it never did come to be: https://web.archive.org/web/20140702211145/https://www.mariowiki.com/List_of_games_by_date

@SLIGEACH_EIRE - So it started out development after 3D world. Here's a FACT for you, the Switch started development after the Wii U was released in 2012. So yes, Nintendo would've had a clue as per it's pecs and so it's logical to assume SMO was always intended for the Switch, and this article confirms that.

So Wii U owners are not suffering as SMO was never intended for them. Get over it

@JaxxDuffer You're talking pony. SMO development started in late 2013, a year after the Wii U released. Nintendo didn't have a clue about the Switch's specs(definitely not its final specs) over 3 years before its release.

"News"

@RusevDay Your username is awesome. That is all.

@APlus I’m gonna keep the receipts just in case. While i find this hard to believe, it would be a pretty epic lineup of games to showcase

@Marios-love-child I absolutely loved Super Mario 3D World, had great fun 100%ing a file of my own and playing with my kids on a separate file.

@Kalmaro
And I hate when 2-screen functionality gets dropped because of a dual release on a new console.

I believe there is a good chance that even as soon as 2013 Nintendo were done with Wii U and Already making plans for the switch.

It's not unbelievable to think any new Mario game was moved to future console.

Why can a certain someone not accept that Nintendo gave up on Wii U very soon after release

Kinda obvious.... we all knew WII U was dead already and Nintendo knew it as well. They made the right decision so we wouldn't get the dumbed down version

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Galaxy started development in 2002, a year after the GameCube launched. Nobody is making a case that it was planned for anything other than the Wii. Nintendo has never made a 3D Mario title from the ground up for the latter half of a console’s life. The only time we’ve even seen a 3D Mario towards the end of a console is Galaxy 2, and that’s only because it used pre-existing assets. And like I said before (in a post you ignored, like you very often do when I present logic that conflicts with your agenda), even if Nintendo had given the Wii U its full five year cycle, the Switch would’ve launched in the fall of 2017, coinciding with Odyssey’s release. And since 3D Mario games historically launch in the early days of a Nintendo system, this makes perfect sense.

Not only does history indicate that 3D Mario games have never been developed from the ground up for Nintendo consoles late in their life, but Nintendo itself has here confirmed that Odyssey was never intended for Wii U. Yet you remain incredulous, in spite of history, logic and first-hand testimony. I’d say evidence like that is far, far more compelling than a hunch of yours, which is obviously motivated by your emotional connection to the Wii U and your disappointment that it didn’t get enough support.

And I’m completely ready for you to ignore my post again. I just can’t let stubborn, illogical, emotionally-driven posts like yours to go unchecked.

Slow news day, huh?

@jimi Just because the Wii and GameCube have similar tech specs does not mean that every game on the Wii was intended to be a GameCube game. The Wii was made because Nintendo doesn’t keep any of its home consoles in the market for more than five or six years, not because the GameCube failed. Even if the GameCube was a success, there still would’ve eventually been a successor to it around the same time the Wii came out. Just because Galaxy could’ve run on GameCube in no way means Nintendo ever intended to release it on GameCube. I have no idea where your reasoning is coming from but you’re getting way off topic.

I love how Nintendo stating something obvious has triggered people due to their own inaccurate preconceived notions ("every game released early in a console's lifespan was obviously in development for the previous console").

@jimi You have zero evidence to back up the claim that Galaxy was ever intended to be released on GameCube. Saying “it’s possible” isn’t compelling enough evidence.

Nobody is arguing that the GameCube was a commercial failure, but to say the Wii only existed because the GameCube failed is foolish. Nintendo would’ve made a successor to GameCube after five or six years even if it was a massive success. Are you implying that if the GameCube sold 100 million units Nintendo would’ve never moved on?

@jimi I am in no way contesting that the Wii took the form factor it did because the GameCube failed. I don’t know where you’re getting that from. I’m simply saying that whether the GameCube failed or succeeded, by 2007 Nintendo would’ve already moved onto something else. They went blue ocean because the GameCube bombed, but even if it succeeded, they would’ve had a new console by 2007. That’s all I’m saying. Good lord, read my posts before you start arguments about things we already agree on.

And you said it was “likely” that Galaxy was intended for GameCube. That indicates not just possibility, but probability.

@jimi And I’m saying that when Galaxy released in 2007, the GameCube would’ve been off the market, whether it succeeded or failed. They went blue ocean because it bombed but even if they stayed in the red ocean, Sony and Microsoft had put out successors to their consoles and Nintendo would’ve wanted a competitive edge and would’ve released something new. So when Galaxy released in 2007, Nintendo wouldn’t have put a flagship, high budget Mario game on a dead console. Nintendo has never built a 3D Mario game from the ground up late in the life of any console, successful or not. Based on history, it’s highly unlikely Nintendo ever planned on putting such a landmark title on a dying console so late in its life. To suggest otherwise defies logic.

You used the word “likely” instead of “possible”. Putting other words in bold doesn’t hide it.

And if Nintendo had gone HD and stayed red ocean in 2006, Galaxy would’ve just been a prettier, HD version of itself. Mario games aren’t exactly graphics-intensive.

Regardless of all of these points, you’ve completely derailed the original conversation. My original point is that historically Nintendo never makes new, ground-up Mario 3D games late in a console’s life. Nintendo itself has said they planned Odyssey to be a Switch game from the start. Releasing in fall of 2017 would’ve lined up with a Wii U successor regardless of whether or not the Wii U failed. Trying to argue that Odyssey was ever planned as a Wii U game defies logic, history and first-hand testimony from Nintendo.

And unless you’ve got something productive to add to that original topic, I’m done.

@jimi This is ridiculous. I’m going to go through these one last time, and that’s it.

I only accused you of using the word “likely”. You did. You put other words into boldface type, but they don’t change the meaning of the word. It indicates high probability. You’re adding way more emotion and significance to my observation.

Of course it would’ve taken more work to render Galaxy in HD. I never said it would be a simple fix. And if they stayed red ocean and had released an HD console in 2006, the game would’ve been built from the ground up for HD. Again, you’re adding way more emotion and meaning to things, accusing me of thinking I know more than a developer. What in the world gave you that impression? Try to breathe.

Nintendo may have been dishonest about BOTW’s changes but they have no reason to lie about Odyssey’s development. And again, Nintendo has never, EVER made a 3D Mario from the ground up late in a console’s life. The statement from Nintendo lined up with everything we know about the history of Mario games. To argue otherwise is just a childish conspiracy theory for no reason whatsoever.

I would’ve liked to see what they had planned for BOTW’s GamePad integration, but there’s nothing you or I can do about it, unfortunately. And all in all, I’m glad it’s on the Switch. I enjoy playing it portably or in a higher resolution with a better frame rate.

@APlus facepalms

What in the world happened in here?

This is such a weird article. Of course it was never planned for Wii U, because early 2014 was plenty late enough to spot that system's ceiling. If it had sold 10 million by 3D World's launch then Odyssey would have been planned for Wii U. Because that's how sales work...

lots of animosity.

the wii u stunk, the wii before it stunk, the gc stunk, and the n64 stunk.

put a cd drive on the n64 and N may still be close to the top today. instead they've made an indie console with some N games. fun but nothing too exciting like anything in console OR PC land is really right now, what a desert

the height from which they've fallen is only shown up by sega's massive plummet and atari's complete implosion.

So not only are they doomed, but they're also liars. Damn you Nintendo!

@APlus this seems more like a list of things you want. Not a list of actual E3 plans

Considering you can play Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U Super Mario Odyssey is the first big exclusive that made me want to upgrade to switch

I absolutely think it was the right choice to have Odyssey be only on Switch. To be honest, if they hadn't planned and announced BotW on Wii U, I would say they shouldn't have bothered releasing it there. And before you jump on me, I own a Wii U, but the Wii U was dead long before the Switch showed up.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE
Why not?

It is so awkward to hold a button to run in SM3DW which, like SM3DL, doesn't really work as a 3D nor a 2D game. I also think that SMO was originally intended for Wii U but quickly changed platform when Nintendo decided to stop supporting it. The only difference with BotW is that the Zelda game had been in development for longer.

@electrolite77 To repeat what I said, am I the only one who remembers in 2014 that a New 3D Mario Game was announced to be coming to the Wii U, proof by what this list of Mario Games both released and upcoming looked like in 2014 (some Game Critics may've even mentioned it on their sites in 2014): https://web.archive.org/web/20140702211145/https://www.mariowiki.com/List_of_games_by_date

As if Nintendo would only release 1 2D and 1 3D Game per system, of which the Mainstream Mario Games for the Wii U and 3DS released within their First Year, before Amiibo was introduced (the Wii has said otherwise about that for having had 2 3D Mario Games). And as if the Switch really started work immediately after the Wii U, the Wii U started work on only 2 years after the Wii, Iwata never knew anything about the Switch or anything for the system aside from it's codename and that it would not be shared to the world before his passing.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE I understand what you are getting at with the specs and do agree that they may have used Wii U hardware at some point in development, but that isn’t the point. The point is they never intended the game for Wii U.

In 2013 they would have started development with story, level design, character design and so forth and working with what they knew about Switch, ie, the portability and motion controls.

All this would have taken place on PCs within an engine they knew the Switch would support. They would have then used prototype controllers hooked up to that system to test the game. And yes, it could have been a modified Wii U, but not likely as it is a completely different architecture. They likely had Switch prototypes with inaccurate specs but with the same “build” if you know what I mean. For example, it wasn’t very until late in development that they doubled the RAM after third party developers convinced them it needed more power.

When they got the almost finalised specs for Switch in early 2016, that’s when they would have adapted the game to that.

I’m on your side as a Wii U fanboy and I think this game could have launched on both without much modification, but I think they ultimately made they right decision to move people over to Switch.

I'm pretty sure it was originally planned as a GBA release.

Developed for Wii U or Switch, who cares? It came out on Switch, that's a fact. If you're salty over it not being on the previous system, get some lemon and tequila to go with it and ease the "pain".
The Switch is my first console since a Chinese Famicom knockoff that was popular in the former Eastern Block. I cared not for the Wii U and a Mario game wouldn't have changed that, a sentiment shared by a lot of people seemingly, as sales numbers of the systems show. Most people aren't single hardware dev fanboys

@jimi Wii

CPU 729 MHz IBM PowerPC " Broadway "
Memory 88 MB (total), 24 MB MoSys 1T-SRAM, 324 MHz, 2.7GB/s bandwidth

Storage 512 MB Internal flash memory

Graphics 243 MHz ATI "Hollywood" [13]

Gamecube

IBM PowerPC Gekko @ 486 MHz

Storage None

Graphics ATI Flipper @ 162 MHz

So much for being two Gamecubes taped together.

Oh and before you say it was the same architecture in PowerPC well...what does that make the Xbox 360? 3 Gamecubes?

No surprises here for me, still bitter that botw was gimped on Wii u to make the switch version appear superior though. The best Zelda ever could have been 5% better 😤😤😤

Damn there is a lot of bitter people here. If a company frustrates you that much, maybe you should move to a different platform...

Dang, didn’t know people disliked Super Mario World so much. I thought it was a lot of fun. A little hectic when it came to multiplayer but still fun. Anyways, I think had SMO been a launch game it would have made sense to do a Wii U version but no point almost a year after the Switch has launched.

People are seriously saying that Super Mario 3D World isn't a 3D game.

Cool - whatever - I guess you kids can have your cake and eat it too!

The Wii U by the end of 2017 was a lost cause for Nintendo given how small the userbase was and Miiverse shut down. The Switch on the other hand was already booming in sales by the time Oddesey did come out the year the system launched and there were already a ton of great ports that could be played on the go as well. It was a no-brainer.

@electrolite77 Well, these Upcoming Games in that list at the time were true. I can’t find anything else to refresh your memory from 2014, but Beta64 talked about that announcement in this video in regards to the Announcement of a New 3D Mario Game that year: https://youtu.be/cTVmqKOz3WA

As did GameXplain in their discussion video bout 2014 in Gaming:
*https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5emaOBg2sAA
*https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IqeZPJbPmD4
*https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hJfvt0NDoDw
*https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HVqNE0fYSFY
Well, it was one of these videos that talked of what this 3D Mario Game for Wii U that never came was thought to’ve been.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE I'm gonna be honest, you sound like a conspiracy theorist trying to catch them in a lie. .__.

@Syntaxkita NES never got an "open world style mario game"
SNES never got one.
So.......
Gameboy never got one, Game Boy Advance never got one. DS never got one. 3DS hasn't either.