The absence of Mario and Sonic from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has left fans disappointed and wondering what could have been. The iconic video game characters, who have joined forces in a series of tie-in titles since the Beijing Olympics, have been a fan favorite for years.
Lee Cocker, the executive producer of the series, reflects on the unlikely collaboration between Nintendo and Sega that brought Mario and Sonic together in the first place. He explains how the idea of the two characters appearing in the same game would have been unthinkable in the 1990s, but by the early 2000s, relationships had softened, leading to a successful partnership.
Despite the popularity of the Mario and Sonic games, the license was not renewed for the Paris 2024 Olympics, with the International Olympics Committee opting to work with a new partner, nWay, to produce a mobile game called Olympics Go!. While the new game has its merits, fans and speedrunners who dedicated hours to perfecting their skills in the Mario and Sonic series are left disappointed by the absence of their favorite characters.
Although the future of Mario and Sonic at the Olympics remains uncertain, the legacy of the games they did participate in lives on in the hearts of fans who grew up playing them. The iconic collaboration between two beloved video game characters will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who enjoyed the games over the years.
