Nintendo has big plans for Mario’s 35th birthday, and everyone is invited to the party.
According to reports posted by VGC and Eurogamer, the platform is planning a major event to coincide with the anniversary of Super Mario’s 1985 debut. Trusted sources say the major highlight will be the release of remastered versions of Super Mario 64 (1997), Super Mario Sunshine (2002), and Super Mario Galaxy (2007). There are plans to release other Mario titles later this year, to include a new installment in the Paper Mario series as well as a deluxe version of Super Mario 3D World (2013).
The extensive back catalog of Super Mario games released prior to the Nintendo Switch includes over a dozen titles on five different consoles. It has been discussed that Mario 64, Sunshine and Galaxy could appear on a singular collection, as in the case of Super Mario All-Stars (1993).
Recently, Nintendo has begun to diversify its intellectual property by partnering with various brands to produce some unique products: such as Lego, which just unveiled an electronic Super Mario set with customizable levels and interactive play pieces; and Levis, who showed off a Mario-inspired fashion line that includes shirts, pants, and overalls (plumbers wrench not included).
The icing of this proverbial cake is the anticipated official announcement of Nintendo’s partnership with Universal, and the reveal of their plans for the Super Nintendo World theme park attractions and the animated Super Mario movie.
According to the report, the 35th-anniversary reveal was intended to be a physical event at E3 in June. Since the event’s cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nintendo may instead choose to make the announcement in a digital showcase.
Photo illustration by Sam Machkovech/arstechnica.com
