Nintendo has announced that Super Mario Maker 2 will feature Mario 35th-anniversary content later this year. A special anniversary-themed Ninji Speedruns course will be added to the game in November.
Fans of Super Mario Maker 2 are no strangers to the game's Ninji Speedruns mode, which asks players to speedrun Nintendo-designed levels and compete for the best times.
Nintendo has not given any indication of what exactly the anniversary speedrun course will look like. It's entirely possible that Nintendo may choose a simple throwback that takes Mario back to his roots, such as replicating an iconic level from one of the NES Mario games. Alternately, the speedrun could showcase Super Mario Maker 2's quirky hidden power-ups in a new way, as did the recent Player's Choice: Power-Up Party Ninji Speedruns course.
The announcement did not indicate any kind of reward for participating in the anniversary activity, but it is still a possibility. Given the addition of Mario furniture in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, it would not be surprising for Nintendo to add some kind of anniversary-themed avatar to Super Mario Maker 2.
It's important to clarify that this update will not add any new course elements for players to use. Super Mario Maker 2's last massive update in April 2020 gave players a lot to work with, and Nintendo has made clear it is the game's last major update. Nintendo has since chosen to solely prolong the game's lifespan through new Ninji Speedruns courses.
Even if Super Mario Maker 2 will no longer be receiving any kind of new courses or course themes, it is nice that Nintendo thought to include it in the anniversary celebrations. The game's focus on creativity requires an active community to thrive, and Nintendo continues to fuel creative flames with its additions to the game.Â
Super Mario Maker 2Â is now available for Switch.
Source: Nintendo
