UPDATE: The new game is based on last year's New Super Mario Bros. Mii technical demo.

In what seems like a foregone conclusion, Nintendo has confirmed to Eurogamer that the company plans to show off a new Super Mario Bros. game for its upcoming new Wii U console at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June.  Here's the relevant quote:

"In a recent interview, Mr. Miyamoto confirmed that a new Super Mario Bros. game for the Wii U system will be shown at this year's E3 Expo," a Nintendo spokesperson said. "We'll have more to announce about our plans for the E3 Expo at a later date."

Considering how important top quality Super Mario titles are for Nintendo's consoles, I hope that this new game is far along in development and is ready for launch with the Wii U.  The company has been taking its time to get games such as Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 3D Land out the door in recent years, launching new hardware without its famed plumber mascot ready to go.  While the original Wii didn't need Mario in the end to rocket to a stellar start (Wii Sports sold the system just fine), the 3DS didn't really take off until Mario arrived late last year.  Strangely enough, Steel Diver and Nintendogs weren't enough to move hardware at launch.  My guesses for Nintendo's plans for the Wii U launch library are just as good as yours at this point, but I really hope that whatever this Mario title may be, it's ready for launch (not that I want its development to be rushed, mind you; my hope is that everything is progressing smoothly towards a punctual release alongside the Wii U).  I'm more than ready for high definition Nintendo titles and the tablet controller, but I'm not prepared to buy a Wii U just for, say, Wii U Sports.  Barring something truly amazing and unexpected, I need something from the world of Mario, Zelda, or another AAA+ Nintendo franchise to get me on board right away.