The International Olympics Committee (IOC) has officially ended its partnership with Nintendo and Sega, which means there will be no new Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games video game for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.

Over the past two decades, the collaboration produced six titles in the Mario & Sonic Olympic Games series, starting with the first release in 2007.

Lee Cocker, a developer involved in the franchise, revealed that the IOC's decision was driven by a desire to pursue more profitable ventures and increase revenue.

As part of its new strategy, the IOC is shifting focus towards NFTs and esports, areas that have not yet proven to yield strong financial returns.

In lieu of a Mario & Sonic title, the IOC has launched Olympics Go! Paris 2024, a free-to-play mobile game featuring Olympic-themed minigames and NFT digital pins.

Looking ahead, the IOC is set to debut the Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia next year, coinciding with the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Despite the current absence of a new installment, there is hope for the series to return for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics.

The lack of a console-based Mario and Sonic game has disappointed fans who cherished the whimsical competition that the series provided.

While official Olympic video games continue to be released, they do not evoke the same nostalgia as the beloved Mario & Sonic series.

Previous titles in the series were linked to major Olympic events, including the London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020 Games.

The IOC's shift away from traditional gaming partnerships marks a significant change in its approach to engaging with the gaming community.