August 20, 2001 - According to Japanese publication Nintendo Dream, the next installment in the Mario Brothers series will hit the GameCube in 2002. This report comes in response to long-running speculation that Nintendo may have a secret Mario launch title in store for the GameCube's Japanese debut next month.

The announcement doesn't exactly come as a surpise, as Nintendo has kicked off its marketing machine in Japan and is pushing Wave Race: Blue Storm and Luigi's Mansion as the console's main attractions. Japanese GameCube enthusiast site GameCube Inside reports that the magazine speculates that Nintendo will try to keep the release of the new Mario game as close to launch as possible, and guesses at a release in the first quarter of 2002.

The GameCube's Japanese debut marks the first time that a Nintendo console launches without a Mario title. However, considering that the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Melee combines Nintendo's most beloved franchise characters into one game, Nintendo is still able to drive system sales with the help of the plumber's popularity.

If a Mario GameCube title is indeed slated for an early 2002 release, expect to read our first impressions of the game from Thursday's Spaceworld Expo in Tokyo, Japan.