Yes, we know it, you know it, everybody probably knows it by now – Super Mario 3D All-Stars is being obliterated by the Nintendo gods on 31st March.
On that day, physical versions of the game will be removed from all official Nintendo outlets, and the digital version will also be pulled from the eShop. It's safe to assume that retailers still carrying stock of the physical game will continue to sell off copies until they run out, meaning some physical units will still be available beyond Mario's destruction day, but what about the digital version?
Well, as it happens, Nintendo has confirmed that any retail download codes (as in, download codes purchased via a retailer, as opposed to a direct download from the eShop itself), will remain valid after 31st March (thanks, VGC).
Thankfully, this means that if you opt to buy a digital code over the next few days, you'll still be able to use it and activate the download – even though the product won't technically be on the eShop anymore. You might even find download codes still available at select retailers, just like physical copies, so there's still a glimmer of hope for anyone who still might be unaware of the game's removal after that date.
Remember that 31st March also spells the end for Super Mario Bros. 35, the Super Mario Game & Watch, and more.
What a mess, huh?
[source videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 140
NL you've kinda made me excited for the end of March, so.....thanks.
It isn't a mess though as it has been clearly communicated by Nintendo from the start.
And on the brightside you guys have got so many articles out of it!
31st can't come quick enough.
@TheFullAndy SO SO SO many! What will they do on the 1st April !!!???
It's like Bunny Day 2020 all over again.
No, NintendoLife, not a mess. Commerce. I don't know their reasons, but I assure you that they have them, and they are fully entitled to act upon them as they see fit. If you wish to be considered as such, act as journalists, not as a fan site milking a narrative to promote itself.
Didn't Nintendo stop producing download codes for 1st Party games though? Was that just in Europe?
This situation kinda like L'Cie in FF XIII.
Given by L'Cie brand to fulfill the Focus within limited time.
When failed to fulfill (bought the game very late), it will turns into Cie'th (being removed).
So, those 3 Mario games will turn into Cie'th after 31 March 2021.
Ah yes, the topic that NintendoLife won't shut up about.
I've been around in the shadows since WiiWare World, but damn, you guys are getting really obnoxious and annoying on this topic.
I could just not say anything, but I want to make it known that we don't need a million articles about something that was CLEARLY communicated to begin with.
It's an anniversary celebration. Suck it up and we can all move on with our lives.
Now can we stop writing a million articles about this? Thanks.
@Carnictis
1st April - "It's been one day since Mario 3D All Stars etc were removed from sale"
2nd April - "It's been two days since Mario 3D All Stars etc were removed from sale"
3rd April - "It's been three days.............
I was kind of curious about this. I figured the codes would work given that you can redownload the game if you brought digitally before the deadline, so it is obviously still on the server, but I wasn't sure if codes would be honoured. Good to know.
@Carnictis I agree, at least NL wont be able to do any more of these articles
@TheFullAndy God, I hope not
@Mushvision This story is based on new information, which is why it has been covered.
I'm curious if a physical game broke if they'd have to replace it under warranty.
I'm really looking forward to April now, this is just trolling at this point.
Also can I use this thread to complain about gold points being discontinued for physical games older than 2 years? Where's my 50p, Captain Toad?!
Everyone's worried about Mario on March 31st, but nobody asks how Marth feels about March 31st.
Can’t wait till April.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars isn't even all that problematic. I still cannot understand the reasoning for pulling it out of eShop but the physical print run was way bigger than first expected. Finnish online stores say they have 100+ in stock. And I haven't heard of anyone who couldn't get the game if they wanted it. There are probably more physical copies around than what most smaller scale games have.
Fire Emblem and Mario 35 have it way worse. I'm sure Fire Emblem comes back eventually but maybe not for a good while, maybe not even until the next console. I'm not so sure about Mario 35 though. All online game servers shut down eventually but usually not this soon after release.
It’s not as if there aren’t going to be loads of second hand copies going around. That and the fact that all three games are available on older systems (and have been for years).
Having said that, I do feel sorry for some kid who doesn’t get a Switch until later in the system’s life or someone who is deliberately late adopting to pay less money overall (which is a legitimate tactic with prices being so high). The fact that they are potentially missing out on 3 Mario games (of all games to miss out on) would be really annoying!
After April 1st any one wanna buy my physical sealed copy for $3,031.00. Lol not serious
This horse has been beaten to a pulp. At this point I'll be glad when March 31st is here so you will shut up about it. Although knowing NL they'll probably find a way to do another dozen articles about how much they miss Mario 35 and how Nintendo killed their cat.
Does anyone care at this point? Seriously! Let’s make this the last article
@JimmySpades Relax there, defender of corporations. ⚔ NL isn't the place for serious journalism anyway (few gaming sites are, if we're being honest), it often comes off like a glorified fan blog. They gotta get their clicks somehow. 🥛😋
If you lived in Europe and miss the time. After March 31, 2021, just change your region to USA with a USA profile and viola you had 7 more hours to buy the game digitally before it's gone for good. Europe is 7 hours ahead of USA so those extra 7 hours is a good thing. You must act early though cause if you do it after the 7 hours then its too late and getting it elsewhere won't help either.
@Onion
Well if Nintendo killed their cat I would like to know about that!
@ManaOwls
Is this a paid service?
Wise up.
They can always recall all copies and sell them at the Nintendo World souvenir shop. Be an extra incentive to visit (for those Mario fans i guess).
@TheFullAndy Don't forget the weekly Mario 35th poll...it's all content at the end of the day!
@Mushvision But it's NINTENDO Life. Don't you think it's important we give the Nintendo mascot as much attention as we can as we enter the final week of his life?
What is the issue? Skip the article or don’t. The effort people put into commenting on how annoyed by all of this is absurd. If one person benefits from an article, why not? Or are folks upset because the value of their subscription to this site is being diminished by this article taking up one of the daily promised 8 articles a day for their $9.99 a month? Oh, wait...
@WiltonRoots
😂😂
I'm gonna quote Breaking Bad's Mike Ehrmantraut once again: "I've never seen anybody work so hard not to get five million dollars".
This doesn't help me at all. I still have to come up with the money in the next week. Nintendo announcing this is like trolling people who can't afford the game. I want physical, but what would it hurt to give away a free download code to everyone after March 31?
This is probably the least limited limited-edition game ever
Super Mario 3D All-Stars is leaving on the 31st March? This is the first I’ve heard about it. You really should mention it more!
If you are looking for a new story though, I have heard a rumour that Nintendo are releasing a 4K Switch this year. Please keep it under wraps though and don’t say anything.
At this point I'm looking forward to the end of March.
Though, I'm fulling expecting at least a couple 'articles' or opinion pieces going on about it even after it's done.
I've heard it has sold 8 Million copies. So... Its not going to be hard to find in the future, if you want a copy. Like, its not a rare game, at all.
Its not like a Saturn game print run. Those are only in the thousands and from more than 20 years ago.
Anyway, glad to see the end of these articles on NL (and other places). Mind numbing.
@TryToBeHopeful Oh yeah, that's annoying - Nintendo are the only company making their games more expensive after 2 years
This is abomination. We need government intervention
I am sure there will be used copies as well popping up in stores like GameStop for years to come.
@Minecraft_Master
I mean you have had over 6 months to save up for the game.
I can't wait for 31st March, perhaps then Nintendolife will focus on better news articles rather than clickbait and regurgitating the same old news article with slightly new info.....
Beating this dead horse so much your fists are glued to the ground.
@Late Especially as Super Mario 35 could be an argument in favor of NSO.
@TheFullAndy Saving up money is sometimes easier said than done. Especially when those six months were within a year of layoffs and lockdowns, with an economic crisis looming ahead.
I agree with some of the comments: Its pathetic and sad to report about this over and over and over again. But yeah, with the lack of other news...
@TheFullAndy december 31st: “it’s been 8-9 months since it was pulled from the stores.”
@SmaggTheSmug
I am aware, but that is always potentially the case.
Bottom line is Nintendo informed everyone from the start it was a limited run and people could plan ahead if required. If money issues are that serious a videogame isn't a priority anyway.
Me and me game card are spending the 31st in the ole panic room. Come and get it Nintendo, I know karate!
@Carnictis If they don't do an April Fools post about Super Mario 3D All-Stars, they'll be missing a trick =0p
@TheFullAndy fan newsblogs and tabloids when the industry does something potentially "controversial":
I can't wait for the article where we hear about what Brie Larson thinks about this March 31st deadline.
@PortuGuy Can I agree with you and still enjoy a good moan?
Am hoping once Mario's anniversary is over we can get some Zelda anniversary announcements soon. I'm curious to know what's around the corner.
@sikthvash What if it was all an elaborate April Fools from Nintendo and they announced on April 1st the games would still be available?
We're all gonna die!!!!!
@chardir Obvs I got it on discount from a real store!
NL is like Frank from Donnie Darko: "3,31,2021, that is when the world will end."
@Tasuki At full price, probably.
@TheFullAndy,
In all fairness they got far too many articles out of it, and as you said this was all very clearly communicated by Nintendo as soon as they announced all this Mario stuff.
Mario's death. Destruction day.
Have you actually heard yourself? lol
@johnvboy
Yeah but I hope NL doubles down on the 31st and has an article every hour counting down the remaining hours. Would be bedlam!
Mario Kart Home tour will be available "forever", right? It's too expensive in Brazil, but I wish to buy it in 4 or 5 years for my son
@WiltonRoots,
It's all for advertising clicks....
@TheFullAndy,
You can bet your house on the fact this will not be the last article on the subject.
@TheFullAndy @bimmy-lee @johnvboy
https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/gaming?iso=20210331T235959&p0=769&msg=Mario+3D+All+Stars+gets+pulled&ud=1&font=cursive
They should attach a countdown to the main page. Might be easier.
I'm still in two minds about whether or not to pick this up. On one hand, it's a good value package (well, physically anyway) and it's going away soon, but on the other hand, I've played them already.
@WiltonRoots
"Dawn of the final day"
I think it was pretty obvious download codes were going to be honored for a while, just like anybody downloading the game before the deadline, then deleting it by mistake, can then re download it.
This is a pretty flimsy " New Information" article in my opinion, as its pretty much stating the obvious.
@WiltonRoots,
Did not need this link, I have the site projected to the rear of my house, and a big siren will sound when the game is pulled.
Nintendo.
A not very consumer friendly company.
Fan for 27 years, but Nintendo's treatment towards fans have slipped in the past years.
Reminds of how WWE treat fans.
Another product, which has went terrible over the years.
Just as when the Wii Shop was going to stop accepting money for Wii points, I managed to find some old Wii Points cards that still rang up at the register and the codes were still accepted on the Wii Shop. Years after they were made and maybe a couple more years that they should've been sold out and they still worked. Digital cards have ridiculously long shelf lives across the board. XBox Live point cards are the only exception I can think of.
Maybe we have only ourselves to blame for clicking on these articles?
But I have to think in the long run they can't be good for NLife. If every time you visit the site it's a clutter of nothing articles and repeats, how long will you keep visiting?
@Madder128 Madder128, no, they are not very friendly. They are literally going to take all these games and codes and burn them or dump them in a pit, rather than give them to people who really want to play the game. And they spent the past month rubbing it in our faces. Someone told me a lawyer is suing Nintendo because of this. I agree. You should not be allowed to force someone to buy a product.
@Minecraft_Master no one is forcing you to buy it.
Like most looking forward to the end of March so we can have no more of these articles .
@WiltonRoots - We could get hourly news that way. “We’re now one hour closer to when we’re gonna put Mario in a sack w some heavy rocks & toss him in the harbor”, or some other overly dramatic thing like that.
@Minecraft_Master
Just sell your PS5 then you can buy 10 copies of the game.
@Minecraft_Master Since that new young Japanese CEO got in, the company from a fans perspective has been going down the toilet.
@bimmy-lee
We did get the classic " games erased from existence " post!
Tatsumi was a way better CEO, same with Iwata and Yamauchi.
This new guy is trying to make Nintendo like Disney.
@CammyUnofficial CammyUnofficial, Buy this now or it will never be available again is totally forcing me to buy it. They sold millions of copies of this game by forcing people to buy it, so I'm sure it will happen again.
@Minecraft_Master
Or you could, you know, just not buy it.
Literally (you like using the word "literally" I see) 99.99% of the population isn't buying it so doesn't seem forced to me.
@Madder128 Madder128, I know. Sony puts the PS5 in a lottery so everyone can buy one. That's fair. And then Nintendo sold the Animal Crossing console and no one could ever get one a week later. And then a year later, they brought it back but at the same time as the Fortnite console. So if you didn't get one at launch, when no one could, now you have to buy two consoles at once or choose only one.
@Minecraft_Master
"And then Nintendo sold the Animal Crossing console and no one could ever get one a week later. And then a year later, they brought it back but at the same time as the Fortnite console. So if you didn't get one at launch, when no one could, now you have to buy two consoles at once or choose only one."
Wow.
@Minecraft_Master but you're just mad about it then? I dont think they've been deceptive or unclear that if you choose (not are forced to) to buy this game first hand, that you pay MSRP before 3/31. Its fine to disagree with their practice but I repeat no one is forced to buy it, they just laid out how n when. Like Starbucks pumpkin spice latte or limited edition baseball hats, you name it
"What a mess, huh?"
Not really.
Nintendo has been clear from the very beginning that 3D All-Stars would only be available up until the end of March 2021. They didn't pull the rug beneath anyone whatsoever and announced the March 2021 discontinuation last month.
@Madder128 "Nintendo. A not very consumer friendly company. Fan for 27 years, but Nintendo's treatment towards fans have slipped in the past years."
I'd say they've just reverted to pre Iwata and Reggie Nintendo again. I wouldn't say the Hiroshi Yamauchi era was particularly consumer friendly.
Iwata seemed to know what gamers wanted more, being one himself and he made Nintendo more open and human. RIP...
@Minecraft_Master "Sony puts the PS5 in a lottery so everyone can buy one. That's fair." Are you deranged? The PS5 can't be found in stores and is being scalped for twice its MSRP. Super Mario 3D All-Stars is more ubiquitous than Coca-Cola. You are disproving your own point. Will someone help me here?
Can't wait for the inevitable, "It's the first week of April and we're still feeling the 3D All-Stars Blues" articles.
@DoomTurtle - I heard in an interview somewhere she supports the 31st AND censorship!!!
@suikoden - We sure did! Right out of existence, like they never existed. We still have a week for the rhetoric to escalate. By next week, we’ll all be complicit in the little cartoon jumping man’s death.
@Clyde_Radcliffe
I was around back in the day when people - including many of this very website - were labeling Iwata as some deluded, out-of-touch president who lost touch with reality with his mishandling of the Wii U and needed to be replaced ASAP.
Frankly, I think this "Iwata was such a consumer-friendly president who knew what gamers wanted" sentiment that I've been seeing a lot recently is something that many people never actually believed when Iwata was still alive and solely exists today to criticize the current Nintendo leadership.
Mind you, Nintendo's current leadership often deserves criticism, but those criticisms can be made without bringing up the legacy of a dead man.
Heck, the trend of anniversary-related products being sold for a limited time started under Iwata with Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary on Wii, but funny enough, no one seems to mention that... 🤔
@westman98
Yes 50 quid for the PAL version of SNES Mario All Stars.
Now THAT was taking the P.
@Carnictis It would be so awesome for Nintendo to announce those products aren't discontinued on the 1st of April. We would probably have 1 trillion articles on NL about analysts and insiders confirming everything and it's opposite.
@Burning_Spear
I have seen their other comments, no helping them.
@westman98 To be fair, Iwata was somewhat miscast as a president. He had great ideas for products, but he oversaw the release of one of the worst-marketed consoles of all time, that of course being the Wii U. More precisely, saying it was poorly marketed is inaccurate, since it was barely marketed at all. That's on the president. And he never directed his people to leverage the Game Pad's unique capabilities. My opinion of Iwata was super-nice guy, super-imaginative, did a lot of great things for the gaming world, a gaming Hall of Famer, but someone who should have been a head of R&D, rather than running a giant company.
As many have stated the deal with 3D All Stars couldn't have more stated by Nintendo. There was no debate on my end therefore I got a copy day one and never thought about it ever again. In the 6 months you either wanted it or didn't.
@TheFullAndy
Nintendo also discontinued Metroid Prime Trilogy for the Wii in North America about 5 months after its launch.
Unlike with Mario 3D All-Stars where Nintendo looks to ship 10 million copies of the game prior to its discontinuation, Nintendo produced less than half a million copies of Metroid Prime Trilogy, so obtaining a retail copy became impossible really quickly.
@westman98 I saw that in Best Buy for $19.99 in the steel case and grabbed it for the heck of it. One of the best spur-of-the-moment purchases I've ever made.
@westman98
Yeah people sure have romanticised ideas of Nintendo from the past.
They have always had the capability to be ruthless and make bad decisions.
But this one is not anti-consumer, everyone knew the facts in advance and could plan appropriately.
As I have said before this wouldn't really be a celebration of 35 years of Mario if the games/products celebrating it were available forever.
@TheFullAndy The people crying are probably the sort of people who have birthday months, or have never had anyone say no to them in their lives...
Has anything been mentioned about Nintendo pulling the update from the servers from the end of March?
I have a sealed copy given as a gift (I own the games on original hardware so have not felt the need to open it yet) but I think there's been some really useful updates from what I've read. I'm not sure whether to keep it sealed and hope I can still update when the time comes to open it, or just update it now to be on the safe side. I've never heard of updates been unavailable before but it wouldn't surprise me with this one!
@WiltonRoots
Like that Minecraft Master guy above complaining he would have to choose between two differently decorated Switch consoles?
The horror!
@ryancraddock Would this be the same for the Fire Emblem 30th Anniversary download codes as well? Especially the ones included in the 30th Anniversary Collector's Special Edition that came out last year? I sure hope so there are still a few left at online markets like eBay or Amazon that people are still trying to sell, now for sure the game itself isn't the most attractive thing out of that physical release but it sucks to know people that get it after the 31st may not be able to use those codes.
@TheFullAndy he’s blatantly on a windup, there’s no way he’s for real.
@WiltonRoots
I sincerely hope so!
@Clyde_Radcliffe
Iwata could not have known all that much what gamers wanted, just look at the Wii U, and he still would have been accountable to share holders, don't believe all that nice guy image, it's a business at the end of the day, there to make profit.
@TheFullAndy,
You just do not get these real world problems, Mario Switch or the Animal crossing one, for me neither as they both look hideous.
Person wrote this interesting reply to me before, but deleted it.
Basically said I had no loyalty to a company, or anyone.
Assumptious.
Bought every Nintendo console since Snes to now.
Every handheld up until now.
And all major AAA titles ever put out by them.
Apparently that's not loyalty.
Fair enough
I don't mind an opinion.
But to say I'm not loyal as a fan is crazy 😂
@johnvboy
I live a sheltered life!
Never reallly cared what any of my consoles looked like as I tend to focus on the tv/console screen when actually playing games!
@TheFullAndy,
That's why I keep dying on Mario 3-D world, I never look at the screen, I just keep looking at my dock, which is strange as it's the normal one.
On April 1st Nintendo will schaut April fools!
Ahh first world problems. Popcorn?
The article is not about March 31st and the removal of the game(s) (again); it’s about download codes still being honored past the date. Everyone’s so focused on calling out NL and repeatedly posting about it that you all missed the point.
Did you all know that codes were being honored after? I didn’t. Therefore it was news to me.
@Carnictis Post an article about how Nintendo went back on its decision to pull Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Super Mario Bros. 35 off the eShop.
@Sunsy no one is worried but the NL writers.
I might use some stimulus money and get the Game & Watch (on the fence at the moment). Kind of bummed it doesn't have a kickstand like the old ones did and I have three ways to play Mario in my house right now (3DS, Wii U, Switch).
Yeah and apparently ebay won't allow this game to be resold on any of their sites.
@JimmySpades It's 2021, if you've seen a journalist, let me know. Hadn't seen one since Cronkite died.
There will actually be two ways to get the game after March 31st.
NL you need to shut the hell up!
@ChromaticDracula,
If you thought that the downloads codes were not going to work after the 31st, but Nintendo were still going to allow you to re-download digital copies bought before the deadline, then I do not know what to say, it sounded pretty obvious to me this was going to be the case.
@USWITCH64 fr? Interesting... i wonder what scalpers are gonna do with their copies lol.
@Abweegee,
I think everybody who wanted to buy this has bought their copy, they have had nine months or so.
Guaranteed they’re just gonna split the bundle into 3 digital games in a couple of months.
I’m so glad they are getting rid of this and all the other Mario stuff. We need to move on, get over it, etc. Nintendo doesn’t want people interested in Mario or buying his merch or games because, hello... BOWSER is in charge now. How did no one else see the connection? 🤣 ha, it all makes sense now, eh?
@Abweegee no, was being ironic
Came for the "Nintendo life, you made 10 articles about it before" and you guys did not disappoint. Well done!! 😆😆
@Damo
That DL codes are a thing & will remain valid (probably) is actually useful- Thank you NL!
I write probably bc if I buy a FE1 code w/ no switch it means I have to hope Nintendo will accept it whenever it is reasonable for me to purchase a switch. Alternatively I heard there is a way to legally “trade” games between friends if on an NSO account? Hm...
Also, NL staff: It’s interesting how even when you all (NL) post articles that certain somebodies claim to have less than no interest in and that are not news worthy (often following official Nintendo releases), the same people write dozens of comments about how excessive/annoying/click bait etc. NL is and how you need to post this other stuff etc. It is almost like they are attacking NL for being ... “ ‘anti-consumer,’ “ ... (science Girl faints at the sight of this word)... but No no no they would never... no it is far more simple:
Certain commenters might just have a lil’ crush- and Damo- if that pic is accurate I can see why.
Just keeping it light and silly people~~~ digital hug
@ChromaticDracula
Agreed!
Wiiware cards or whatever expired when that shop shutdown, Including the uploaded points even though re-downloads were kept up longer. Yes it’s apples and oranges-but that’s kind of the point- without explicit details plenty will say it is Nintendo’s right .... if my Fire Emblem 1 code/card expires in March too.
It is interesting to see what people write and I’m glad we all have fun posting on this site!
According to https://gameandwatch.nintendo.com/
The Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. system (released Nov. 13) will continue to be shipped to retailers through approximately March 31, 2021, and will be available for purchase while supplies last.
Article Game:
Available for purchase through 3/31/2021 or while supplies last
@Dr_G_Lemaitre BLUSHES UNCONTROLLABLY
Seriously though, appreciate the support!
I'm thinking of picking up an additional copy or two to scalp later on, I could use more drinking money
This only encourages scalping and high prices of physical copies. Shame on Nintendo.
@JimmySpades Of course Nintendo have their reasons, nobody has debated that. But given that this action is undeniably unfriendly to the consumer, and that every single major gaming outlet has echoed this opinion, blaming Nintendolife for an article about a way around it for those who still want to buy the game is pretty pointless and sad
@EVIL-C Dude it literally is a fan blog. It started out as a few guys posting articles and became pretty popular and monetized but it still has the same core team and is a very small company. I know your point was not to expect high quality journalism from them so I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you or anything but anybody who's looking for that here has major issues. To be honest, gaming isn't a serious topic period.
You'd swear that Mario was a death row inmate with how this is being treated
@AlexSora89 I suppose that you are talking about Nintendo opting for making this a limited thing instead of selling more in the long run? If that's the case, this is why, from my perspective, their approach is better from a business standpoint:
1. This way they manage to sell the game at it's full price instead of people having the option to get it discounted after a few years and diminishing the risk of overproduction at the same time.
2. Because of people having fear of losing their chance to get the game, many customers will buy the game despite of the minimal effort that was done with these ports even when we have much better examples of collections and anniversaries done right like Kirby's anniversary collection. Since it was succesful it will allow for similar practices in the future.
Notice that I'm not in favor of any of this, I'm just explaining how it makes sense from a business standpoint and how it's a safer way to invest and control the profit. It's better to sell 2 million copies for $120 000 000 (assuming it was 60 dollars, I don't remember) than producing 3 million copies and earning $155 000 000 because many haven't sold yet and others were bought on discount. .
I purchased a physical copy day 1 and barely touched it. I don’t know why, but I’m feeling the strongest urge to play now that it is being delisted. I’m sure sales have surged in the past couple days as well. Nintendo still knows how to build hype!
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