Super Mario Bros. 40th Anniversary Image Surfaces—Authenticity Draws Skepticism Among Fans

A purported screenshot said to mark the official Super Mario Bros.

40th anniversary has made waves across gaming communities.

The image, allegedly sourced from Nintendo’s official Japanese website and a Super Mario newsletter sent to North American customers, has ignited considerable discussion regarding its legitimacy and Nintendo’s approach to milestone celebrations. Super Mario Bros., developed by Nintendo and first released in 1985 for the Famicom and subsequently the NES, is one of the best-selling and most influential video games of all time.

With the upcoming 40th anniversary, expectations are high for how Nintendo will commemorate such a significant event in gaming history.

Nintendo has a well-documented history of celebrating major Super Mario anniversaries in style—from the Super Mario Bros.

25th Anniversary collection on Wii in 2010 to multiple limited-edition promotions and game releases marking the series’ 35th anniversary in 2020. The recently circulated anniversary image features a distinctive logo using Japanese katakana characters to spell out "Super Mario Brothers,” straying from Nintendo’s usual branding.

Historically, Nintendo has preferred the English-language title “Super Mario Bros.” even for their Japanese marketing campaigns and official logos.

This notable deviation has fueled skepticism about the screenshot’s authenticity among fans and industry observers alike. Reflecting on the situation, a reliable source in the Japanese gaming community described the image as an unexpected break from past conventions.

They emphasized, “Nintendo consistently maintains the English ‘Super Mario Bros.’ branding—even on their Japanese platforms.

Using only katakana, as seen here, is uncharacteristic of their approach.” Nintendo has yet to make an official statement regarding this anniversary image.

As of June 2024, no announcement for a 40th anniversary event, special edition, or collection has appeared on the company’s eShop, Nintendo Direct presentations, or mainline social media channels.

The lack of corroborating evidence on Nintendo’s official platforms underscores the community’s caution in accepting this image as legitimate. Super Mario Bros.

continues to be a cornerstone of Nintendo’s identity, driving hardware sales through titles on each major platform, including the Nintendo Switch.

The series celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2020 with Super Mario 3D All-Stars on the eShop and a wide array of commemorative merchandise, pointing to Nintendo’s meticulous handling of franchise milestones. As anticipation for new announcements builds in the lead-up to the 40th anniversary, fans are encouraged to remain vigilant and rely on official sources for updates.

For now, questions regarding the legitimacy of this image underscore the importance of careful scrutiny when viral content emerges in the gaming community.

Stay tuned for further developments as Nintendo reveals its official plans for the Super Mario Bros.

milestone.

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