Nintendo Re-Releasing Super Mario Galaxy Proves That It Needs to Undo Its Biggest Mistake of the Past Decade

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The upcoming Nintendo Direct brings exciting news: Both versions of Super Mario Galaxy, set to inspire an animated movie sequel, are making their way onto the Switch 2. These games will be available as a collection and individually on the eShop. Notably, the first game appears to have received no updates since it was initially released on the Switch five years ago as part of the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection. Its recurrence in both collections raises questions about potential oversight from Nintendo; however, they possess the ability to rectify this issue with ease.

Mario Galaxy Is Back, But Why Not Mario 64 and Sunshine?

With the release of both Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel on contemporary consoles, it’s now possible to play all 3D Mario games from a single platform. The first Galaxy, along with Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, were compiled in the 2020 collection known as 3D All-Stars. On the other hand, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury and Super Mario Odyssey were initially exclusive to the Nintendo Switch. However, it’s important to note that there’s a significant limitation with 64 and Sunshine: they will only be available until March 31, 2023 in their remastered form.

The important thing to note is that both games are no longer obtainable through their original release, which was the limited-time offering called the 3D All-Stars, launched from late 2020 into early 2021. If you didn’t purchase it during this timeframe, then unfortunately, you missed out. Nowadays, you may find a physical copy through resale markets, but due to the limited supply, the price tends to be well over $100 on platforms like eBay.

It’s evident that Nintendo isn’t concerned about the exclusivity of Super Mario Galaxy, since it’s being re-released. However, it seems strange and unusual that they continue to keep Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine restricted in this fashion when purchasing a new Switch or future versions doesn’t readily provide access to these games as well.

A more fitting approach would have been for Nintendo to release this trilogy collection during Mario’s 40th anniversary celebration. By initially publishing it for his 35th anniversary and then bringing it back in a permanent capacity for the 40th, it would seem more logical. The initial scarcity encouraged sales at that time, and now, by returning it when demand is high, Nintendo can maximize profits. This strategy allows them to celebrate Mario effectively while minimizing their effort and generating substantial revenue.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars Remains Nintendo’s Most Bizarre Release Ever

Although Nintendo is generally admired for its positive qualities, it’s undeniable that the company prioritizes financial gains significantly. Their decisions often aim to maximize profits, which makes the release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars somewhat unusual. In an unexpected move, Nintendo deliberately capped the potential earnings from this game over its lifetime. While this strategy boosted short-term sales, it has resulted in a nearly five-year gap without any subsequent sales, which seems counterproductive to their profit-driven approach.

If Nintendo agrees to make Super Mario Galaxy a permanent addition, it seems logical that they would also consider making permanent returns for the other two games as well. Since the remastered versions of these games already exist, Nintendo could simply place them on the eShop, generating more revenue.

In simpler terms, it’s clear that Nintendo owns valuable assets with Super Mario Galaxy returning and a film coming next year. However, this shouldn’t prevent them from releasing other classic games as well, since they are already prepared for modern consoles. All they need to do is press a few buttons to make these games available again, potentially generating significant revenue.

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2025-09-13 19:41