Hold on to Your Hats, Mario Fans: Nintendo Just Tweaked a Delisted Game for the Switch 2!
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Nintendo quietly updated the delisted *Super Mario 3D All-Stars* to improve performance on the unreleased Switch 2, leaving us all wondering what they're actually planning with this blast from the past.
Right, so Nintendo's been up to some peculiar business, and I reckon you'll want to hear about it. Game Rant (bless their data-mining hearts) spotted that *Super Mario 3D All-Stars*, that limited-run collection of Mario goodness from the plumber's 35th anniversary, just got a sneaky update. Yes, *that* one. The one they yanked from the eShop back in March 2021, causing physical copies to skyrocket in price like a bloomin' rocket.
But what's even weirder, mate, is that this update (version 1.1.3, if you're taking notes) is apparently aimed at improving performance on the *Switch 2*. The console that hasn't even been officially announced. Talk about playing the long game!
Now, before you grab your pitchforks and start chanting about Nintendo's questionable business practices (we've all been there, haven't we?), let's unpack this. *Super Mario 3D All-Stars* bundled together *Super Mario 64*, *Super Mario Sunshine*, and *Super Mario Galaxy*, giving them a fresh coat of paint for the original Switch. It was a nostalgia bomb and a great way to experience (or re-experience) those classics. But then, poof! Gone. Artificial scarcity at its finest.
This update doesn't add any new features like, say, more controller support (though previous updates did bring some N64 controller compatibility). Nope, this is purely about making the game run smoother on the next-gen Switch, according to Nintendo's support site. The previous update, version 1.1.2, also tweaked things to improve performance on the yet-to-be-released console. So, they're *definitely* planning ahead.
But here's the real question: why bother updating a delisted game for a console that doesn't even exist yet (officially)? Is this a sign that Nintendo might bring *Super Mario 3D All-Stars* back for the Switch 2's lifespan? Could it be a test run for future backwards compatibility efforts? Or are they just, you know, tidying up loose ends?
The timing is interesting, isn't it? Rumors are swirling about an upcoming Nintendo Direct, and the 40th anniversary of *Super Mario Bros.* is just around the corner. Something's brewing in the Mushroom Kingdom, and this sneaky update might just be a tiny hint of what's to come. Maybe they'll even throw *Super Mario Galaxy 2* in there this time (one can dream, can't they?).
It's all a bit of a head-scratcher, isn't it? Nintendo's actions often feel like watching a wizard cast a spell – you know something cool is going to happen, but you have absolutely no idea what form it will take. One thing's for sure: this story is far from over, and I, for one, am strapped in and ready for the ride.
Tags: Nintendo, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Switch 2, Gaming News, Updates
Original article: Game Rant