Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Series Ended over NFTs and Esports

While the 2024 Paris Olympics are still ongoing, Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario and their friends will not be participating. The Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series no longer continue, as the International Olympic Committee (or IOC) has elected to pursue other partnerships. (Thanks, Eurogamer!)

This is the first time in almost twenty years that a Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games title will not be released to coincide with the Olympic Games. Instead, the IOC has elected to partner with Esports and NFTs.

The license for the Mario & Sonic games expired in 2020, with the IOC electing not to renew it. According to the Eurogamer interview with Lee Cocker, who worked on most of the Mario & Sonic entries, the decision was made to bring the interactive tie-ins more in control by the IOC.

The official tie-in game this year is a smartphone and PC exclusive called Olympics Go! Paris 2024, developed by nWay. The free to play title features 12 Olympic Sports and advertise NFTs for the Paris Olympics.

The last Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games title released in 2019 to coincide with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The first entry in the series appeared in 2007.