Iconic video game character Mario will die at the end of the month – if social media is to be believed.
The fictional Italian plumber, who’s starred in games including the Super Mario, Mario Kart and Super Mario Bros franchises, is at the centre of a popular internet meme spread among Nintendo fans.
People have repeated the claim that “Mario will die” on 31 March. The date of Mario’s supposed demise relates to the impending removal of a number of Nintendo games and products from sale, with little to no explanation given.
On 31 March, the Super Mario 3D All-Stars game – a collection of three classic Mario games from the N64, GameCube and Wii, re-released on the Nintendo Switch – will no longer be available to buy, in either physical or digital format.
Super Mario Bros 35, Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros and a collection of Super Mario Bros 35th Anniversary merchandise will also be removed from Nintendo’s store.
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The removal of the 3D All-Stars game in particular has provoked confusion among fans, with some confused as to why Nintendo would decide to discontinue digital sales of an existing game. Some have speculated that the individual re-releases contained within will later be re-packaged and sold separately.
However, many others have latched onto the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that Nintendo is planning to kill off its flagship character for good.
“2021 is the year of digital destruction. PS3, PSP and Vita PlayStation Store is shutting down, and Mario dies for good,” wrote one Twitter user.
“Almost a week until Mario dies,” wrote someone else.
“All the mario games are going away on March 31 because Nintendo is killing him,” asserted another Twitter user.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars is available to purchase from the Nintendo store now.
