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Nintendo explains why they're removing multiple Mario titles after March 31st, 2021, "can't speak" to plans afterwards

So long, Mario
by rawmeatcowboy
16 December 2020
GN Version 5.0

Nintendo has announced that multiple Mario titles are going to be yanked from circulation after March 31st, 2020. This includes games like Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Super Mario Bros. 35, and more. Wondering why Nintendo is making that decision? Doug Bowser spoke to Polygon to explain.

Yeah, I think I use a simple word: celebration. It just — this is a celebration of Mario’s 35th anniversary. And we wanted to celebrate in unique and different ways, and we’ve done that through games like Super Mario 3D All-Stars, or we will be doing that through future releases, such as Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury.

And then we’ve also done it through releases such as Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros., or through Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. There are various ways that we’re celebrating Mario’s 35th. And with some of these titles, we felt it was an opportunity to release them for a limited period of time. They’ve done very, very well. Super Mario 3D All-Stars has sold over 2.6 million units in the U.S. alone. And so clearly, consumers have been able to jump in and enjoy that. And it’s not strategy that we’re going to be using widely, but it’s one we thought was very unique for the actual anniversary.

...at this point, the decision was really made around that celebration feature and aspect. I can’t speak to plans beyond the the end of March.

[Link]