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Ex-SEGA Producer Says Nintendo Forced Mario to Stand Ahead of Sonic in Olympic Games Art

The unverified claim comes from a retrospective interview about the series’ production.

Overview

  • Former SEGA producer Ryoichi Hasegawa says Nintendo required Mario’s foot to appear in front of Sonic’s in official Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games artwork.
  • He recalls that an initial image showed Sonic’s foot ahead, prompting a request to change the “priority.”
  • Hasegawa says SEGA altered the art used on packaging, the instruction manual cover, and the cartridge label.
  • He recounts fearing the deal could be jeopardized if the change was not made.
  • The anecdote was shared with Arcade Attack, reported by Nintendo Everything and Nintendo Life, and coverage notes the series appears finished with a previously discussed broader 2020 crossover reportedly never realized.