You remember the hype in 2007, right? The "impossible" crossover. Seeing Mario and Sonic on the same box art felt like a fever dream for anyone who survived the 90s console wars. For nearly two decades, these two icons basically became the face of the Olympics for gamers.
Then Paris 2024 rolled around. Nothing. Just silence from Sega and Nintendo.
Fans were left scratching their heads, wondering if the blue hedgehog and the mustachioed plumber had finally had enough of each other. Honestly, the truth is way weirder than just "low sales." It involves a hard pivot by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) into some of the internet's most controversial buzzwords.
The Shocker: Why the Series Actually Ended
Basically, the IOC decided to walk away. It wasn't Nintendo or Sega throwing in the towel. According to Lee Cocker—a veteran who worked on the series for years at ISM—the Olympic Committee chose not to renew the licensing deal after the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Why? They wanted to chase money elsewhere.
Instead of stick with the 30-million-selling powerhouse that was Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, the committee decided to focus on NFTs and internal esports ventures. They wanted to bring the gaming side "in-house" to maximize profit.
It's a bizarre move. You’ve got two of the biggest entertainment brands on the planet—fresh off massive movie successes—and you ditch them for digital pins? That's exactly what happened. The "replacement" for the Paris 2024 cycle was a mobile and PC game called Olympics Go! Paris 2024. It featured 12 sports and, you guessed it, commemorative NFT digital pins.
Hardly the same energy as Bowser and Knuckles duking it out on a track.
A Legacy of Sales and "Dream Events"
The series wasn't just a gimmick; it was a massive commercial engine. The first entry on the Wii and DS sold over 13 million copies. That’s an absurd number for a sports mini-game collection.
Even as the series aged, it maintained a loyal following. People loved the "Dream Events"—those weird, gravity-defying versions of sports that used items from the Mario and Sonic universes. It was the only place you could see Peach use a Chaos Emerald or Shadow the Hedgehog engage in rhythmic gymnastics.
- Beijing 2008: The record breaker (13M+ units).
- Vancouver 2010: Introduced the Winter Games and actually had a decent story mode.
- London 2012: Often cited as the peak for mini-game variety.
- Tokyo 2020: The swan song. It tried something cool with a 2D "retro" mode, but the real-life delay of the games sort of killed the momentum.
Sales definitely dipped toward the end. Tokyo 2020 reportedly moved around 1.3 million copies—respectable, but a far cry from the Wii heyday. When you factor in the massive licensing fees the IOC likely demands, the math probably started looking shaky for Sega.
The NFT Gamble That Missed the Mark
The timing of the IOC's pivot couldn't have been worse. They banked on the 2021-era crypto hype, but by the time the Paris 2024 games actually arrived, the NFT market had largely cratered.
While the IOC was busy setting up an "Olympic Esports Games" in Saudi Arabia for 2025, they lost the one bridge they had to the casual, younger gaming audience. Mario and Sonic weren't just games; they were "entry drugs" for the Olympics. Kids played the games and then wanted to watch the actual 100m dash.
Without that crossover, the Olympic gaming presence feels... invisible. Have you even seen an ad for Olympics Go!? Probably not.
Is There Any Hope for a Comeback?
Right now, the series is officially dead. The license has lapsed.
However, the gaming world loves a revival. Since the IOC is a business first, if their internal projects and NFT experiments continue to see minimal engagement compared to the 30 million units Mario and Sonic moved, they might crawl back to the table.
There's also the "Switch 2" factor. With new hardware on the horizon, Nintendo and Sega might be looking for a fresh way to collaborate that doesn't involve the strict (and expensive) oversight of the Olympic Committee. Fans have been begging for a "Mario & Sonic Platformer" or an RPG for years.
How to Play the Classics Today
If you're feeling nostalgic, your options are getting narrower.
- Check the eShop: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is still available on the Nintendo Switch, though it frequently goes on sale.
- Go Physical: The Wii and DS versions are everywhere in used game stores. London 2012 is generally considered the "best" for pure party fun.
- The Hidden Gem: Don't sleep on Vancouver 2010 for the Wii. The skiing and bobsled events are surprisingly deep.
The era of the "official" crossover might be over, but the impact stays. It proved that the two biggest rivals in history could play nice—as long as there was a gold medal on the line.
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Next Steps for Fans:
If you own the digital version of Tokyo 2020, keep it installed. Licenses like this often result in games being "delisted" from digital stores without much warning. If you’re looking for a modern alternative for local multiplayer, Super Mario Party Jamboree has filled some of that "mini-game" void, even if it lacks the Olympic spirit.