We’ve seen Nintendo’s Mario character cross over with characters before, like Sonic the Hedgehog in Sega’s bi-annual Olympic Games releases. However, his latest crossover could be his most popular to date.
Nintendo has announced that it has joined forces with Mojang to bring the Mario universe to the Wii U version of Minecraft. A new Super Mario Mash-Up Pack will be introduced on May 17 as a free update to the game, allowing users to access a number of new skins and textures, along with a pre-made Super Mario world and themed music.
In addition, a special retail version of the Minecraft: Wii U Edition will be made available on June 17 for $29.99, with all of the Super Mario content included on the disc.
“Both the Super Mario franchise and Minecraft embrace the magic of exploration and discovery,” said Steve Singer, vice president of publisher and developer relations for Nintendo. “Players will have a great time adventuring and creating in this free game update that embraces the unique and memorable elements of both franchises.”
This is huge news for both companies. Mario, of course, has become a popular icon for Nintendo for well over 30 years, selling millions of copies of games across the board, including Wii U releases like Super Mario 3D World and Mario Kart 8. Meanwhile, Mojang has sold more than 70 million copies of Minecraft worldwide, including top-sellers on consoles that continue to rank in the top ten.
It’s a huge business move that brings two massive universes together into one collective product—and that business potential could possibly continue with versions of the game for the New Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo’s much-anticipated NX console, set to debut worldwide in March 2017. These have not been confirmed yet, but considering the series’ best-selling nature, a deal shouldn’t be far off.
In the meantime, Minecraft: Wii U Edition is available now.
