Rumour: Paper Mario 3DS dated for this year in Japan

Asahi Shinbun, the second biggest-selling Japanese national newspaper, has celebrated Mario’s 25th birthday by accidentally dropping the strongest hint yet that the 3DS will be available in Japan before the end of the year.

Describing the latest iteration of the oddly marvellous Paper Mario series, the paper went on to reveal that the 3DS version of the title has a release date later this year.

Naturally, if this is true, it would mean the console itself will have to be released either before or at the same time.

There are already murmurs that the big N will finally lift the veil on the 3DS launch dates later this month, so hopefully we’ll be able to put the constant stream of rumours out of their misery soon.