Upcoming Nintendo Switch game Super Mario Odyssey is designed for "core" gamers and people who "like action games" reveals famed game designer Shigeru Miyamoto.

One of the biggest (and most well-received) surprises of last night's Nintendo Switch reveal event was the announcement of Super Mario Odyssey. A brand new 3D Mario game, Super Mario Odyssey is an open-world sandbox that sees players navigate the bustling streets of New Donk City and even come into contact with some real-life people who aren't just friendly cartoon humans like Princess Peach and Mario himself.

While the prospect of a new Mario game on a new Nintendo console is enough to get anyone excited, during the Nintendo Treehouse event today, Shigeru Miyamoto, who helped create the Mario franchise, revealed more about the game. According to Attack of the Fanboy, Miyamoto said that "In recent years we made Super Mario 3D World, and even though it is a 3D game, it is more accessible to everybody." The developer further explained that "when we thought about making Mario for Switch we thought to make the game something more on the core side, something that people who like action games can really get into.”

Miyamoto also revealed that Nintendo sees the Mario franchise as having two paths – one for casual and one for hardcore players. While Mario games are accessible to everybody, Miyamoto said that sometimes the games feature more simplistic controls so that everyone can play the game without worrying about control schemes.

While many long-standing Mario fans will be glad to hear that Super Mario Odyssey is designed with them in mind and that the game could feature controls that will challenge them, others will question whether the core gamer focus is such a good idea. After all, Nintendo has already said that the Nintendo Switch won't lean towards core gamers, so the fact that Super Mario Odyssey does, could potentially turn the system's target audience away from one of the biggest first-party games announced for consoles.

The core-focus of the game will also do nothing to encourage investors, with Nintendo stocks already having dropped since the Switch reveal event. And although it's true that there is plenty more to be shown off regarding Super Mario Odyssey before it releases later this year, and that additional trailers and previews could show how the game appeals to both core and casual players, for now Miyamoto's comments are more likely to cause skepticism than confidence in the game and the Switch.

Super Mario Odyssey will be released on the Nintendo Switch in holiday 2017.