A bizarre crossover RPG combining the Super Mario and Rabbids franchises is set to be released in fall for the Nintendo Switch.
The game, which will be entitled Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, will likely be showcased in the upcoming E3 in June.
Rumored 'Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle' Set For Fall Release
Rumors on a crossover RPG featuring Nintendo's Super Mario and Ubisoft's Rabbids first surfaced in November from statements made by Laura Kate Dale, a freelance video game writer and insider.
According to Dale, two new Super Mario games were being planned for the Nintendo Switch. The first game, the 3D platformer that was seen in the hybrid console's reveal trailer, is now known as Super Mario Odyssey. The successor to Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64 and Super Mario Galaxy for the Nintendo Wii will feature scenes that are inspired by real-life locations such as New York.
The second game was said to have the working title Mario RPG: Invasion of the Rabbids. Not much detail was given regarding the RPG, only that it will be set in the Super Mario universe with the Rabbids characters launching an invasion.
The rumored game has now been confirmed, though with a different final title of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. Kotaku was able to acquire the game's art assets from a source, who requested the website not to publish the material.
According to the report, Ubisoft is developing the crossover RPG on its own Snowdrop engine, which is the same engine that powers titles such as Tom Clancy's The Division and South Park: The Fractured But Whole. From the materials, it appears that Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle will feature turn-based combat with support for a two-player local co-op mode.
The game is said to have "a goofy sense of humor," with some of the art showing Mario and his friends carrying guns that fire lasers.
There will be eight playable characters in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, namely Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Yoshi, along with four Rabbids that are dressed up as these four Super Mario characters.
Possible Announcement, Release Date For 'Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle'
Nintendo has not yet officially announced the RPG, though it is very likely that the game will be making an appearance at the upcoming E3 in June.
With a rumored fall release, Nintendo Switch owners who are intrigued by the crossover game should expect Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle to launch in August or September. Super Mario fans will be able to spend their time on the RPG while waiting for the release of Super Mario Odyssey, which is expected to hit the market in this year's holiday season to give Nintendo Switch sales another push.
In the meantime, Nintendo Switch gamers who are looking to get their Super Mario fix can play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which is an improved version of the original title that was released for the Nintendo Wii U. All of the unlockables in the game were opened up for the Nintendo Switch release, except for Gold Mario.
