'Super Mario Run' release date, news: Nintendo Switch to get iOS exclusive?

Nintendo Creative Fellow Shigeru Miyamoto announces a Mario Bros game for the iPhone, as a translator stands nearby, during an Apple media event in San Francisco, California, U.S. September 7, 2016.Reuters/Beck Diefenbach

"Super Mario Run" could end up on the Nintendo Switch after all if a patent filed by Nintendo regarding the game is anything to go by.

A NeoGAF user going by the name Rosti directed fans to a "Super Mario Run" patent filed by Nintendo back in September, which is the same month the game was officially unveiled.

The patent hints of a possible rollout to the "home video game machines," which gives the impression that "Super Mario Run," which is currently poised as an iOS exclusive, will be released to the Nintendo Switch.

However, Rosti clarified that this by no means verifies that the game is coming to the console. Another NeoGAF user pointed out that the patent for the freemium social networking mobile app "Miitomo," released for Android and iOS also mentioned "home video game machines" but was not released to the console.

"The Miitomo trademark application also mentions home video game machines. Again, this is not confirmation of anything, I figured it was simply interesting to bring up," Rosti explained.

"In my opinion a game like Super Mario Run would make much more sense on a home console than Miitomo. And especially on a device like Nintendo Switch which can be used on the go," he went on to say.

"Super Mario Run" is indeed different from "Miitomo" as the former is a full-on side-scrolling, auto-runner platformer video game while the latter facilitates social interaction only.

However, with the Nintendo Switch on its way and the Wii U ending up as a flop, "Miitomo" could still get a console release, and Nintendo might have been saving it for the next-generation console.

Interestingly, there is a rumor going around that the Nintendo Switch will get a Mario game but not "Super Mario Run." Instead, it will reportedly be the 3D Mario game featured in the trailer for the console, although nothing is confirmed yet.

At the moment, "Super Mario Run" is only slated to be made available to the iOS next month. A trial version will be provided, and fans will have to pay a certain price that is yet to be revealed to get the full game.