Overview

• Nintendo published the clarification on its Nintendo Today app on July 23 and deleted it the following day under the service’s daily content refresh policy
• The explicit “good friends” label directly contradicts decades of in-game kisses, Valentine’s Day nods and “cutest couple” references in Mario titles
• This platonic framing mirrors Nintendo’s choice to describe other flagship duos—such as Link and Zelda—as friends rather than romantic partners
• Although the app entry was removed, Nintendo confirms the statement remains the official canon and will shape future game narratives and marketing
• Fans and media outlets immediately seized on the brief post, leading to robust online discussion about its impact on the Mario franchise’s emotional storytelling