Nintendo talks what it’ll take to maintain Super Mario’s popularity when the series turns 100 in 2085

Super Mario has a long way until it reaches its 100th anniversary, but the creators of the IP have now weighed in on what it’ll take to get there.

Super Mario just turned 40 last month. That means we’re not at the halfway point to 100. Still, the likes of executive fellow Shigeru Miyamoto, executive office Takashi Tezuka, composer Koji Kondo, and SRD president Toshihiko Nakago have weighed in on the future as part of a Nintendo Museum book.

All four were asked if they believe Super Mario will remain popular when the series turns 100 in 2085. The first response we have is from Tezuka, who said:

“One might think it would be a miracle if Mario was still here after 100 years, since we make things while not knowing when our players may get bored with them. If it’s not fun to play, you’ll get bored, and I’m always thinking of how to keep it so that something like that doesn’t happen so that people keep playing.

Different times bring different kinds of fun. What Mario can do now is completely different from when we started out. I want to continue making things people find fun to play, including the actions you do, by changing things little by little.

Until just a little while ago, two generations-parents and children were playing together. Now, three can. I don’t know if we’ll get to four, but we want to make something that can be played together for generations to come. I think it’d make me very happy if we can share that chance to experience Mario together with family and friends. We’ll continue to make Mario games for a long time, so please look forward to them.”

Miyamoto chimed in next, noting that he thinks that Nintendo needs to continue focusing on the interactivity aspect:

“It’s a given that Super Mario will constantly evolve by incorporating new digital technology. Now we’re working in visual fields like movies, but I want to make sure we keep it interactive and digital. As long as we don’t forget Mario’s prime point – running and jumping – as we add new things, I think Mario will be with us for a long time to come.”

“Nintendo takes on unique challenges, and if a new technology is interesting, I believe that by incorporating that technology, we can make that fun expand and grow-like rolling up snow for a snowman. So I hope that you will continue to stick with us.”

Kondo said that he hopes to continue making music for Mario games going forward. As for Nakago, he stated: “I don’t know what will happen a hundred years from now, but I’m going to create programs that are intuitively conveyed to others.”

Super Mario has various plans for its 40th anniversary. In the games department, Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy launched last month – we have a review here. Next year, we’ll be seeing Mario Tennis Fever as well as Yoshi and the Mysterious Book.