Sorry, guys, but Nintendo seems to be maintaining its plan to stop selling a series of games linked to Mario’s 35th birthday. This includes physical and digital copies of games like Super Mario 3D All-Stars for Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo reminded fans on their Japanese Twitter account today they have until March 31 to buy 3D All-Stars – the package containing Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, or Super Mario Galaxy.
The people who bought the games will continue to have access to them, of course, but Nintendo plans to stop producing the game and remove it from the Switch eShop. It is possible that some physical copies will remain in stores after March, but the package will be formally closed at the end of the month.
Likewise, the game Mario Battle Royale Super Mario 35 will be discontinued and Nintendo will stop producing its tiny retro laptop, Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.
The announcement eases expectations, as some fans hoped that Nintendo could make a decision similar to the one it made with the NES Classic, and reactivate production of the product later. However, this seems less likely now.
In an interview with Polygon, Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser explained why the company decided to discontinue games. According to Bowser, Nintendo added these games as part of a celebration. As such, they intended to be part of a special moment for the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros.
When asked about players who bought a Nintendo Switch after March, Bowser said: “Yes, at this point, the decision was really made around this feature and aspect of celebration. I cannot talk about the plans beyond the end of March. “
While fans in particular find the decision frustrating – especially since the company could maintain a digital version of the game on the Nintendo eShop – Bowser emphasized that limited releases will not be a strategy commonly used by the company, saying it is just “a [Nintendo] I thought it was unique for the actual birthday. “