Pikmin 4 in Development and "Very Close to Completion"

Nintendo has confirmed Pikmin 4, the previously unannounced next iteration in its real-time strategy series, is in advanced stages of development.

Speaking during an interview with Eurogamer in July 2015, series creator Shigeru Miyamoto said Pikmin 4 is "actually very close to completion."

Pikmin 3 was released for the Wii U in July and October of 2013, but according to Miyamoto "Pikmin teams are always working on the next one."

Nintendo has since corroborated Miyamoto's claim in a statement: "We can confirm that Pikmin 4 is in development, but that is all we can confirm at present."

Given the lack of additional information provided by Nintendo, it is unclear whether Pikmin 4 is in development for its current systems, the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, or if it is being created for the company's next hardware, codenamed Nintendo NX.

The Nintendo NX was first announced in March 2015, and, although it is implied that the system is a home console and not a handheld, no specific details have been released yet. The company has said it does not plan to fully reveal the hardware until 2016.

Reports have suggested, however, that Nintendo could could begin assembly of the NX in October.

Nintendo has said it will continue to support the Wii U and 3DS after the NX is launched, and has been adamant that the NX is not a simple replacement for the Wii U and 3DS.

"NX is a new platform, so the installed base will have to be built up from zero," it said. "When NX is launched, there already will be a certain volume of Nintendo 3DS and Wii U hardware widely existing in the market, so from a software business perspective, it would be highly inefficient to stop releasing titles for Nintendo 3DS or Wii U right after the launch of NX."