Fortnite’s Rumored Mario Collab Can’t Follow in Minecraft’s Footsteps

A new rumor is suggesting that Nintendo’s golden boy might be coming to Fortnite. Though nothing has been confirmed yet, if Fortnite can convince Nintendo to lease out Mario, it should consider going beyond the plumber.

The rumor that Mario might be coming to Fortnite is a recent development, sourced from prolific leaker iFireMonkey on X. iFireMonkey has reported a random flipbook asset that’s taken the form of Mario’s iconic question mark box—found within a file named ‘MC Box’. This is by no means a confirmation of any crossover, especially considering past difficulties around Nintendo IPs in Fortnite, and the asset could be as simple as a placeholder. However, it at least serves as evidence of the plumber’s presence.

If Fortnite Can Get Nintendo Onboard, It Shouldn’t Stop At Mario

Nintendo is famously tight-fisted with its franchises; not only does it place more emphasis on its first-party repertoire than Microsoft and Sony, it prefers to keep its IP on its own consoles. Nintendo only made the jump to mobile gaming last decade, and crossovers with games like Minecraft have been strictly limited by console. These principles have applied to past negotiations with Fortnite, but these rumors serve as a glimmer of hope that Nintendo might actually allow for a multi-platform crossover with one of its properties.

If this truly comes to pass, Epic ought to go further than just a Mario skin or two. This would be a monumental shift in Nintendo’s policy, and pushing those boundaries would only be beneficial to the industry as a whole. Pushing for more franchise inclusions, such as Zelda or Metroid, would help avoid the restrictions Minecraft had with its own Nintendo integration.

Epic Might Have The Opportunity To Bring In A Long-Requested Samus Skin

Minecraft‘s crossover with Super Mario, a mash-up pack exclusive to Switch and Wii-U versions of the game, is indicative of the myriad problems Nintendo crossovers face. Notable issues include not only the exclusivity, but Nintendo’s copyright takedowns against YouTubers using the mash-up pack—a problem Nintendo-based channels still have concerns about today.

Moreover, the Mario mash-up pack was a stopping point. There is a veritable smorgasbord of franchises that Nintendo could be bringing to Minecraft, from cozy IPs like Animal Crossing to the action/adventure of The Legend of Zelda. Such integration would benefit all parties involved, but Nintendo’s dedication to exclusivity has made further tie-ins a tough sell.

Epic has faced similar problems with Nintendo, particularly when it comes to Metroid‘s Samus. In a discussion with Game File, former Epic Chief Creative Officer Donald Mustard revealed that Nintendo was enthusiastic about the idea. However, Nintendo wanted any potential Samus skin to be limited to Switch versions of Fortnite. This brought the deal to a halt, as Epic wanted cross-platform unity. This is in contrast to Sony and Microsoft, who have allowed their characters (including Kratos and Master Chief respectively) to enter Fortnite, agreeing to Epic’s terms.

Fortunately for fans, if the rumors hold true around a potential Mario crossover, the floodgates would truly be opened. Considering that Nintendo has allowed some looseness with their IP in past years, collaborating with Illumination to make The Super Mario Bros. Movie just last year, the theories around this leak aren’t totally unfounded.

Nintendo’s IP Entering Fortnite Would Be A Common Good For The Industry

Nintendo allowing its wealth of IPs to be represented in Fortnite would be an event almost entirely gated by microtransactions, as is the nature of Fortnite‘s model, but it would also open up Nintendo’s beloved worlds to more players. Breaking down the barriers of exclusivity will lead to greater accessibility and more crossover projects in the vein of Smash Bros., which are always great vehicles for celebrating the medium of gaming.