Metal Gear Solid and Dragon Ball Were Nearly Part of a Nintendo Sports Game

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A team member involved in the creation of “Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020,” which came out in 2019 as a sports crossover game by Sega for the Nintendo Switch, has shared that there were several more cross-over ideas in development before the series concluded. This game, themed around the 2020 Summer Olympics, featured Sonic the Hedgehog and other Sega characters alongside Mario and his friends from the Super Mario universe. The game was also launched in arcades the same year.

The Mario & Sonic series has produced a range of games, such as the popular ones like “Mario & Sonic at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games”, “Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games”, and “Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games”. Starting with their self-titled debut in 2007, this crossover series continued to bring out more games based on both Summer and Winter Olympic Games, culminating with the “Tokyo 2020” game, which was the sixth and final installment of the series.

In a Twitter post, producer Lee Cocker explained why the Olympic series of Mario & Sonic was exclusive and not a crossover with other popular characters such as Pokemon, Dragon Ball, Metal Gear Solid, Mega Man, Zelda, and Street Fighter. He mentioned that various deals and agreements couldn’t be reached, which led to the series featuring only Mario and Sonic. However, he did hint at potential characters that could have been included in different events. Despite initial hopes, the Mario & Sonic series was confirmed to have ended by 2024.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Nearly Featured Dragon Ball, Pokemon, Metal Gear Solid, and More Crossovers

In spite of the harmonious collaboration between the plumber and hedgehog in their joint project, the head of Sonic the Hedgehog recently stirred up old rivalries with Nintendo by criticizing Mario Kart. Yet, enthusiasts of this unique crossover opined that incorporating other intellectual properties would have made it even more intriguing, suggesting a Dragon Ball crossover could resemble a Smash Bros.-style Olympics.

Six years have passed since the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, but the possibility of another meeting between the Sonic and Super Mario franchises arises with the launch title of Nintendo Switch 2, tentatively named Mario Kart World. This new game seems to suggest another crossover with Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, potentially bringing characters from both intellectual properties together for an epic racing event. Given Nintendo and Sega’s historical rivalry in the gaming industry, a future crossover between these racers could offer fans of both series an exciting opportunity to celebrate together.

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2025-07-24 14:33