If you own a Nintendo GameCube, Wii, or Wii U and you have never played a Pikmin game, then you are missing out big time. The Pikmin games are a fantastic blend of strategy, adventure, and exploration. Three have been released so far, and we just learned that a fourth one is definitely on the way.
In an interview with Eurogamer, video game demigod Shigeru Miyamoto was asked about the production of a new Pikmin game.
“It’s actually very close to completion,” Miyamoto responded. “Pikmin teams are always working on the next one.”
Nintendo followed up with this slightly more official statement: “We can confirm that Pikmin 4 is in development but that is all we can confirm at present.” Strangely enough, the interview with Miyamoto was held back in July, and embargoed until now—meaning Eurogamer wasn’t allowed to share the news.
There’s no word yet what platform Pikmin 4 would be released on. Pikmin 3 came out in 2013 for the Wii U, so it’s only been a couple of years since we had a new one. By contrast, there were nine years between Pikmins 2 and 3. It’s good to know that Nintendo isn’t setting us up for that kind of wait again.
But, because Pikmin 3 was on the Wii U, it’s not outlandish to suppose that Nintendo might try a new console experience for Pikmin 4. The games have never gone handheld; that might be a good way for them to diversify the experience. Or, of course, Nintendo could be saving Pikmin 4 for the mysterious NX, Nintendo’s next console that we know virtually nothing about.
Either way, we’ll be keeping an eye on this one.
