Ever since the Wii U, Nintendo has developed a reputation for consistently updating its titles so that players will frequently have something to return to when they’re playing next. Splatoon was filled with a plethora of new updates that added maps and weaponry to keep things fresh for veterans and new players alike. Mario Tennis Aces and Animal Crossing: New Horizons have similarly added free content at regular intervals on the Switch, but the same was not true for Super Mario Party until recently. Nintendo dropped a surprise update for the title that adds 70 mini-games and online board play. So, what does this mean for a sequel?
There was once a time when Mario Party games were released at an almost yearly rate. The multiplayer-centric GameCube saw the release of four Mario Party installments alone, and the N64 had three before that. While it did end up flooding the market with a lot of similar titles, it did provide lots of variety for those wanting to enjoy classic Mario Party gameplay. They featured different maps, mini-games, characters, and even modes, which all helped make them feel distinct from each other. Since then, though, the number of Mario Party games per console has shrunk and now the Switch has only Super Mario Party to its name.
Fans certainly enjoyed Super Mario Party’s return to form after Mario Party 9 and 10 experimented with the car, but there was one feature that was sorely lacking from Super Mario Party: online support at launch. Most players enjoy Mario Party best with a group of friends, so the lack of a quality online experience made Super Mario Party disappointing to many who played it. It was bad enough that it was missing from the previous installments on the Wii and Wii U, but being unable to play Party mode or even most of the mini-games online made for a barebones experience. Seemingly out of nowhere, Nintendo has decided to alleviate this issue via a new Super Mario Party update, which might be a sign there’s no new Mario Party coming out anytime soon.
Why Another Mario Party Game On Switch Is Unlikely
While it’s worth noting that the developers of Super Mario Party were hiring for a new project in early 2021, it’s also possible the studio could be working on a different franchise since it’s developed other party games in the past as well. Super Mario Party was often criticized for being lighter on content than it should have been. While it’s true that there are multiple modes to play besides the main Party mode, there are only four maps available for players to choose from. There’s also a good chance that a certain group of friends might dislike one of their limited options as it is, which leaves players with very few choices.
None of this was changed via DLC of any kind, but this new online update fixes one of the game’s most substantial issues, which seems a little odd after failing to support the game online for multiple years. If a Mario Party sequel is in the works now, why wouldn’t Nintendo save such a major feature to hype up its next installment? This wouldn’t be the only example of Nintendo releasing a new title and rarely updating it again since its release. Mario Kart 8: Deluxe received an update that added Breath of the Wild Link and his bike into the game, but not much else besides that.
Ultimately, titles like Super Mario Party and Mario Kart 8 are still selling well without any regular updates or additional content, which probably means as long as Nintendo updates the games occasionally, copies will continue selling. A complete online mode would have been a massive selling point for a potential Super Mario Party 2, but that feature won’t have the same bite it would have had now that players can still buy the old game and have an online experience. It’s obviously still possible, but Super Mario Party‘s strong sales and new online mode lower the likelihood of a sequel releasing anytime soon.
