A lot of Switch fans are going to get their first taste of Mario in VR this week. Super Mario Odyssey is getting an update that will add three new levels to Nintendo’s beloved platformer. These can be played with the company’s recently-launched Labo VR kit. But that’s not all that’s coming in the update.
The official Twitter account for the game (translated from Japanese) confirms that the update will also add a ‘Theater Mode’. From what we can tell, this will allow you to watch the game’s cutscenes with the VR goggles, stretching the world out in 3D. Not a bad little bonus, that.
[VRであそぶ] 4/26のアップデートでは、ムービーシーンを見ることができる「シアターモード」も追加されます！「VR ゴーグル」を使えば、オープニングなどの映像を奥行きのある立体的な映像で見ることができちゃいます。クッパのパンチにビックリ！？ pic.twitter.com/HstnsGk8fF
— スーパーマリオ オデッセイ (@mario_odysseyJP) April 11, 2019
The account also confirms that the three levels will add more hidden Cat Marios to find, which should be pretty fun using VR’s head-tracking. Oh, and you’ll also be able to play these new levels without the VR headset, but where’s the fun in that?
These levels will revisit some of the worlds from the original game from a fresh angle. Think Astro Bot, but replace Sony’s new VR mascot with Nintendo’s iconic plumber. We can’t wait to see Nintendo’s interpretation of what VR brings to the genre.
The update arrives on April 26th alongside a free update for another Switch classic, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. That will add full VR support to the original game. Sadly it doesn’t look like Super Mario Odyssey will be getting the same treatment for now. Let’s hope more Switch games are due a VR upgrade, though.
