Mario & Sonic aux Jeux Olympiques : le crossover officiel

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games: The Official Crossover

1198 mots | Temps de lecture : 5 minute(s)

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games is the first official collaboration between Mario, Nintendo's mascot, and Sonic, Sega's hero. Published under license from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the saga transforms two legendary rivals into teammates for a global competition.

Far from the playground duel that pitted the two studios against each other for years, this series is based on an unprecedented cooperation: the two universes come together on the tracks, in the pools, and on the mats to compete in real Olympic events.

Summary

Two Historical Rivals Finally Reunited

For nearly fifteen years, Mario and Sonic symbolized the console war between Nintendo and Sega. Their reconciliation on screen is therefore a small event: this first game constitutes the very first official authorized meeting between the two camps, and the first licensed game to bring together characters from both franchises.

The project originated from a licensing agreement with the International Olympic Committee, which authorized the use of the Olympic Games' name and symbols. The title was developed by Sega (via the Sega Sports R&D studio), in partnership with Nintendo, with the two companies sharing publishing responsibilities depending on the territories.

The very first installment, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, was first released on Wii in late 2007, then on Nintendo DS in early 2008. It was timed with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and fully utilized the Wii Remote, which players waved to simulate sports movements.

Six Titles on Five Nintendo Consoles

The series features six main titles, released between 2007 and 2019 and aligned with the actual Olympic calendar, alternating between Summer and Winter Games.

  • Beijing 2008: the founder, on Wii (2007) then Nintendo DS (2008).
  • Vancouver 2010: the first winter installment, on Wii and DS (2009).
  • London 2012: on Wii (2011) then Nintendo 3DS (2012).
  • Sochi 2014: the second winter installment, exclusively on Wii U (2013).
  • Rio 2016: on Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (2016).
  • Tokyo 2020: the last in the series, on Nintendo Switch (2019).

In total, the saga spanned five Nintendo machines: Wii, DS, 3DS, Wii U, and Switch. Notably, no episode ever appeared on a competing console, nor on older Sega machines, nor on PlayStation or Xbox.

Real Events and Dream Events

The core of the game is based on authentic Olympic events: 100-meter dash, swimming, fencing, long jump, or archery for the summer editions, and skiing, skating, or bobsledding for the winter editions.

Alongside this realistic foundation, the series adds its famous Dream Events. These are fantastical and unrestrained versions of the disciplines, taking place in settings drawn from Mario and Sonic games rather than in real stadiums.

These Dream Events are the signature of the crossover: they use special items and abilities (shells, rings, speed boosts) that are impossible in a real competition. It is this mix that clearly distinguishes the series from a simple sports simulator.

The United Cast from Both Sides

The major appeal of the saga is to bring together stars from both worlds in the same roster. From Nintendo's side, we find Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, and Bowser; from Sega's side, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Shadow.

The great antagonists are also present: Bowser, the King of the Koopas, clashes with Doctor Eggman (also known as Doctor Robotnik), the evil genius from the Sonic universe.

Depending on the episodes, the list expands with dozens of characters, and players can even embody their own Mii to compete alongside the stars. It's a family photo that fans would never have dared to imagine before 2007.

The End of the Saga and the Absence of Paris 2024

After Tokyo 2020, the series ended. On July 25, 2024, its definitive end was confirmed: no new installment is planned, including for the Paris Games.

The reason lies in the non-renewal of the partnership: the licensing agreement with the Olympic movement was not extended beyond the 2020 edition, which deprives players of a Parisian episode.

This Olympic-licensed cooperative saga should not be confused with the historical rivalry between the two mascots: here, Mario and Sonic play on the same team, which remains an exception in their long shared history.

Series Identity Sheet

English Title Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Genre Sports game and party game
Development Sega (Sega Sports R&D), with Nintendo
License International Olympic Committee (IOC)
First Installment Wii in 2007, DS in 2008 (Beijing 2008)
Main Episodes 6, from 2007 to 2019
Consoles Wii, DS, 3DS, Wii U, Switch
End of Series Announced July 25, 2024

🍄 Want to continue the adventure? Discover our Mario toys in the shop.

FAQ

  • How many games are in the Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series?
    Six main titles were released between 2007 and 2019: Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010, London 2012, Sochi 2014, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020.
  • On which console did the series debut?
    The first game was released on Wii in late 2007, then on Nintendo DS in early 2008, to coincide with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
  • What's the difference compared to the Mario vs. Sonic rivalry?
    Here, the two mascots cooperate under an Olympic license on the same team, whereas their historical rivalry pitted them against each other as symbols of the console war.
  • What is a Dream Event?
    It's a fantastical version of an Olympic discipline, featuring special items and powers, set in environments from the Mario and Sonic universes.
  • Why is there no game for Paris 2024?
    The series ended after Tokyo 2020. The licensing partnership with the Olympic movement was not renewed, and the end was confirmed in July 2024.
Back to blog