Nintendo is going all out to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Super Mario series, and they want the celebration to be special. Apparently, however, "special" also means limited time at the company. While Super Mario 3D All-Stars will bring three beloved 3D platformer games to the Nintendo Switch, you will only be able to purchase it in a certain window.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars will be available from September 18 - production of physical copies will be limited, so once they're gone, they're gone. That's typical of “limited edition” versions for something as special as an anniversary, but what's unusual is the way Nintendo handles digital release. The collection will only be available on Nintendo eShop until "approximately" March 31, 2021. That's a window of six and a half months, or 195 days, to be exact. If you buy the game before the end of March 2021, the game will be yours even after that date.
The case of Super Mario Bros. 35, the battle royale game exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online, is slightly different. After its release on October 1, this game will only be playable until the same day of March 31, 2021. After that, Nintendo will no longer support the game and it will be unplayable. It's an unusual approach, an approach that angered Nintendo fans on social media.
Due to the artificial scarcity of these titles, physical copies of Super Mario 3D All-Stars will be a rare and popular commodity once stores move units. Online auctions for a copy of the game are sure to skyrocket, and those who cannot afford the game or even a Nintendo Switch before March 31, 2021 are sure to be out of luck. Nintendo had previously had limited physical versions with Metroid Prime Trilogy and Xenoblade Chronicles on the Wii, but both of these titles are still available digitally on the Wii U eShop - at least as long as this online store is still up and running.
