Mega Man Was Once Considered for Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games 2020

According to Mario & Sonic series producer Lee Cocker, Sega and Nintendo originally envisioned Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as a full-blown “Video Game All-Stars” crossover, bringing together characters from across gaming history—including Mega Man.

In a recent exchange on Twitter, Cocker revealed that the original concept for the game was to include a wide range of iconic characters—not just from the worlds of Mario and Sonic, but from across the gaming industry. That lineup included Mega Man, Pokémon, Street Fighter, Metal Gear Solid, and even select Sony and Microsoft properties. The idea was that certain characters would appear only in specific Olympic events, creating a crossover experience tailored to each character’s unique traits.

Unfortunately, the plan never came to fruition. “Lots of the deals/agreements couldn’t be agreed, which was a shame,” Cocker explained, “so it went back to just being Mario and Sonic.”

Still, it’s exciting to know that Mega Man was considered for a leading role in what could have been one of gaming’s most ambitious crossovers to date.

Source: The Sonic Stadium