No, Super Mario Maker 2 is Not Shutting Down in 2024 or 2024
Let me be absolutely clear from the start: Super Mario Maker 2 is not shutting down anytime in the foreseeable future. As an enthusiastic gamer and fan of Nintendo‘s iconic mascot, I have been closely following news and updates about Super Mario Maker 2. Nintendo continues actively maintaining and updating the game, and all signs point to support continuing for years to come.
In this article, I will analyze the current status of Super Mario Maker 2, provide evidence of Nintendo‘s ongoing support, assess what Mario games have been discontinued, and predict the future of the legendary franchise on Nintendo Switch.
Super Mario Maker 2 Remains Fully Supported as of 2023
First and foremost, I want to ease any concerns fans may have: Super Mario Maker 2 remains a fully supported, online-enabled title on Nintendo Switch over 3 years post-launch.
Nintendo continues updating Super Mario Maker 2 with new patches. As recently as November 14, 2022, update 1.1.1 was released to adjust game balance and fix bugs. This proves development is still active.
Additionally, all core online services remain available. Gamers can continue uploading their custom Mario courses for others to enjoy, seeing creation statistics, leaving comments and hearts, and participating in online multiplayer with people worldwide.
Lastly, Super Mario Maker 2 remains widely available both physically and digitally. As a current best-seller in the Nintendo Switch eShop, the game shows no signs of vanishing from store shelves.
Altogether, it is clear Nintendo plans to support Super Mario Maker 2 for the long term on Nintendo Switch. They have given the community no indication otherwise.
Super Mario Maker 2 Sales and Engagement
To further showcase Nintendo‘s commitment to the title, let us analyze some sales and engagement metrics:
| Metric | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Global Sales | Over 7.15 million copies sold as of March 2021 (source) |
| Japan Sales | Sold over 279,000 physical copies in its first 2 weeks after launch in 2019 (source) |
| Current Players | Roughly 50,000 weekly players based on online engagement (source) |
| Active Online Courses | Over 12 million courses uploaded by fans since launch (presumptive) |
With millions of copies sold, tens of thousands of weekly players three years post-launch, and countless fan-made courses hosted online, Super Mario Maker 2 remains a vibrant community. Nintendo will continue investing resources into maintaining this popular title for years to come.
Why Some Mario Games Have Been Discontinued
Before predicting the future, we must confront the uncomfortable realities of Mario‘s past. Several other major Mario games have seen online functionalities or availability discontinued over the last 5 years:
- Super Mario Maker 1 (Wii U) – Course uploads shut down on March 31, 2021 and Wii U eShop availability ended January 12, 2021 (source)
- Super Mario Bros. 35 (Switch) – Special battle royale-style game ended service on March 31, 2021 (source)
- Mario & Luigi RPG Series – Developer AlphaDream went bankrupt in 2019, leaving the fate of these RPGs unclear (source)
However, these three discontinued titles have key differentiating factors from Super Mario Maker 2:
| Game | Key Differences from SMM2 |
|---|---|
| Super Mario Maker (Wii U) | Dead console, limited online capabilities |
| Mario Bros. 35 | Limited-time 35th anniversary tie-in |
| Mario & Luigi RPGs | Developer went bankrupt |
Nintendo Switch remains a leading console with full online services. Super Mario Maker 2 is a flagship Mario title built for long-term support. The developer, Nintendo, is more profitable than ever with no bankruptcy risks.
Therefore, correlations should not be drawn between these defunct Mario games and the future of Super Mario Maker 2.
What‘s Next for Mario on Nintendo Switch – And Beyond
Looking ahead, the future continues looking bright for Mario‘s adventures on Nintendo platforms. As of 2023, Switch boasts over 114 million users worldwide (source), representing a massive customer base for new games.
And we already know major new releases coming up on the horizon:
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie: Big-budget CGI animation film releasing April 7, 2023
- Super Nintendo World: Mario-themed amusement park officially opened early 2023
- Possibly Super Mario Odyssey 2: Massively popular 3D platformer ripe for a flagship sequel
Additionally, Nintendo will likely announce even more new Mario games this year to mark the franchise‘s upcoming 40th anniversary in 2025.
Given Mario‘s astronomical popularity across media and merchandise, Nintendo will continue pushing out new Switch entries every year, maintaining online functionality for existing hits like Super Mario Maker 2.
Even once the eventual Switch successor arrives further down the road, Nintendo will likely port Super Mario Maker 2 to continue monetizing the thriving user-generated content community.
Conclusion – Super Mario Maker 2 Will Continue to Be Supported
I hope this analysis gives fellow Super Mario fans peace of mind. All evidence suggests Nintendo will maintain servers and support for Super Mario Maker 2 for the remainder of the Switch generation through at least 2026.
As a beloved Mario title with a vibrant community, discontinuing it makes little business sense with the franchise more popular than ever. Considering ongoing updates and availability several years post-launch, this game will likely remain playable for the long-term future.
While the eventual shift to new Nintendo hardware could impact ongoing support, ports or backwards compatibility would allow transferring user-created courses. Regardless, that is years down the road.
For now in 2024 and the coming years, creators can rest easy knowing Super Mario Maker 2 remains fully supported. I will continue sharing my own courses along with any news and updates I find relevant to this incredible Mario community!
