The latest Nintendo Direct clocked in at just over an hour, the longest in the company’s history, and it was brimming with content. Players were treated to the announcement of a new Fire Emblem title that echoes the ambition of Three Houses, a Pokemon spinoff designed to scratch Nintendo fans' cozy Stardew Valley-like itch, and two new expansions for Donkey Kong: Bananza. It was a Nintendo Direct designed to impress, and by several measures, it succeeded. But Super Mario remains a sore thumb in what should have been an utterly celebratory Direct.
Almost forty years of platforming excellence, cultural influence, and franchise-defining innovation. The plumber is Nintendo’s most iconic character and one of the most recognizable figures in entertainment. And of course, not every Direct will be accompanied by news about Mario. But there is one detail that complicates the celebration: today marks the 40th anniversary of Super Mario. When the moment finally came to spotlight his anniversary, the “main event” wasn’t a bold new game or a groundbreaking adventure. It was a movie.
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A Look at the Announcements On The Eve of Super Mario’s 40th Anniversary
To be clear, Nintendo didn’t neglect the mustachioed plumber entirely. The Nintendo Direct directly mentioned the anniversary, and accompanied the celebration with several announcements tied to the Super Mario franchise:
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie – Illumination and Nintendo officially unveiled the sequel to 2023’s blockbuster Super Mario Bros. Movie, this time with a cosmic twist. The first teaser for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie promises an intergalactic journey inspired by Super Mario Galaxy.
- Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 on Switch 2 – After years of fan longing, the beloved Wii titles are finally making their way to Nintendo Switch in a definitive manner not tied to Super Mario 3D All-Stars. The games arrive on Switch 2 on October 2.
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Switch 2 Edition – A next-generation version of 2023’s Game of the Year-nominated platformer will launch in Spring 2026.
- Mario Tennis Fever – The iconic sports series returns, this time featuring a story mode that unites the Baby Mario characters with tennis skills.
Individually, these announcements are all exciting. Galaxy 2’s long-awaited Switch release is a victory for the preservation of Nintendo games. Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s Switch 2 edition extends the life of one of the most inventive 2D Mario titles in years with the added bonus of extra content. Even Mario Tennis Fever has the potential to reinvigorate a sub-series that has struggled to recapture its peak. But taken together, the slate reveals a larger issue: Mario’s 40th anniversary has no actual defining moment in the face of other slam-dunk Direct announcements.
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The Super Mario Anniversary Has No Centerpiece
Anniversaries are more than a chance to look back. They’re opportunities to define what comes next. But Mario’s 40th anniversary feels oddly conservative. Remasters, ports, and a new movie can add value, but they don’t capture the spirit of reinvention that has kept Mario relevant for four decades.
Every Nintendo generation has had its watershed Mario moment: Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, S uper Mario Odyssey. A 40th anniversary should have been the stage for the next bold step in the shape of a proper 3D Mario title for the Switch 2. Whether that meant a fresh creative experiment that honored the series’ legacy of innovation or a sequel to Mario Odyssey, the fruit was ripe for the taking. Instead, the anniversary spotlight belongs to a movie sequel.
Why The Announcement for the Super Mario Bros. Movie Sequel Doesn’t Cut It
Gaming vs. Cinema
There’s no denying the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a box office triumph that introduced Mario to a new generation of young fans, and a sequel was inevitable thanks to its end-credits Easter Egg. The film has its place in Mario’s expanding legacy, but as it stands now, it is the underwhelming centerpiece of a gaming anniversary.
Mario is not a film icon who occasionally dabbles in games; he is a video game icon who reshaped the medium. His anniversaries should reflect that fact. When the highlight of Mario's 40th anniversary is a cinematic project rather than a groundbreaking game, it signals a shift away from what makes the character matter in the first place.
The Travesty of Playing It Safe
None of this is to say the Mario-related Nintendo Direct announcements were bad. Far from it. Taken on their own, they represent a thoughtful mix of preservation, accessibility, and expansion. Fans will get to revisit two classics, enjoy new ways to play, and even watch Mario take to the stars upon his return to the silver screen.
But anniversaries carry weight. They ask players to look back, but also to look forward, and on that front, Nintendo’s celebration falls short. Super Mario deserved more. A new game, a bold creative leap, or even a glimpse into what the next decade of Mario games could look like would have cemented his 40th as a true celebration. Fans are only left to wonder why Nintendo is celebrating the anniversary of one of its most important characters so cautiously.
40 years of games is a big milestone for Mario. While the Direct gave us much to be excited about, the decision to let a movie carry the celebration will go down as a missed opportunity—a true travesty for the jumpman who built Nintendo’s house of joy.
- Release Date
- April 3, 2026
- Director
- Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
- Writers
- Matthew Fogel
- Prequel(s)
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie
- Franchise(s)
- Super Mario Bros.
Cast
-
Chris PrattMario -
Anya Taylor-JoyPrincess Peach -
Charlie DayLuigi -
Jack BlackBowser
