Many Nintendo fans were ecstatic when a surprise Direct announced a number of events to celebrate Mario’s 35th anniversary. Reactions were big for the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection and in-game events in Splatoon and Mario Kart Tour, as well as a re-release of Super Mario 3D World with additional content, mean this is going to be a big year for the plucky plumber. With that said, it looks like COVID-19 may have delayed the party after a bit of digging on Nintendo’s website reveals an earlier date for an anniversary event.
The entire Direct was filled with all things Mario, and likely offered something for every Mario fan out there. Mario 3D World might be adding multiplayer and some extra content, but fans are really freaking out about the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection. Combining Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy in one package offers a lot of nostalgia in one place for fans.
While this Mario-centric Direct did come during the month when Mario first headlined a game with his name in the title, some digging by well-known internet sleuth Wario64 has revealed that these anniversary projects might have been hit with delays thanks to COVID-19. Found in the now unavailable “challenge” section of Nintendo’s Mario website is a promotional flyer for a Ninji Speedrun event for Super Mario Maker 2 that features what is likely the same anniversary course announced in the Direct. The event was set to run in April of this year, and included prizes for the fastest times. This revealing discovery has fans wondering if this 5-month delay impacted other titles and events unveiled in the Mario 35th Anniversary Direct as well.
On Ebay, Super Mario 3D All-Stars is already commanding prices well above retail, as the tight window from the announcement to release date—plus the added “limited time” availability—has created a bit of a frenzy for the physical copies of the game. While the screencap from Wario64 only details a Super Mario Maker 2 event, the likelihood that 3D All-Stars was supposed to be announced earlier this year, or perhaps even released earlier in the year, is high. This might have allowed fans more time to procure a physical copy, or at least given the secondary market a chance to cool off.
Whether the news was supposed to drop earlier this year or not, it was always a safe bet that this would be a big year for Mario, with such a major anniversary. Seeing the love for Mario this year has fans of The Legend of Zelda excited as that game will be celebrating its 35th next year.
COVID may have delayed Mario’s party, but it’s all sunshine from here.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars will be released on September 18th on Nintendo Switch.
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