Nintendo's 'Super Mario Run' vanishes from iOS App Store [u]

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPhone edited September 2017
Nintendo's Super Mario Run, the Japanese gaming giant's first official foray into mobile content, inexplicably disappeared from the iOS App Store on Monday, leaving the Google Play Store as the title's sole point of distribution.




Users around the world searching for Super Mario Run on the iOS App Store are coming up empty. It appears either Nintendo or Apple quietly pulled the game from its App Store servers earlier today.

As of this writing, Super Mario Run is not accessible in major markets including the U.S. and UK, nor is the title showing up in App Store searches for smaller regional markets listed on Nintendo's availability webpage. Super Mario Run is still available for download and purchase in Nintendo's domestic market of Japan.

The abrupt takedown appears to be related to an issue with Nintendo's latest iOS build, and not a complete franchise removal, as the App Store still carries Super Mario Run stickers for Messages. Further, the app's Android version is currently available for download via the Google Play store.

AppleInsider has reached out for clarification and will update this story when a response is received.

Unveiled onstage during last year's iPhone 7 event by legendary game maker Shigeru Miyamoto, Super Mario Run was released in December. While reviewers praised the title's side-scrolling, endless runner-style mechanics and enticing gameplay, users complained about Nintendo's monetization scheme that requires players pay a one-time $9.99 fee to unlock the entire game world.

Gamers familiar with free-to-play mobile titles might be confused by Nintendo's marketing tactics, which present Super Mario Run as a free download on the App Store. The title is basically a for-pay game that includes a few sample levels to whet player palates.

Despite relatively steep pricing, Super Mario Run logged 40 million downloads in its first week of availability, with Nintendo later saying the title generated 6 billion yen ($53 million) in sales in a little over one month.

Following Super Mario Run, Nintendo released its second in-house title, Fire Emblem Heroes, in February. The latter game is currently available on the iOS App Store.

Update: The game has returned to the App Store.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 10
    jaleelhamiddjaleelhamidd Posts: 2member
    The app shows fine in Canada 
  • Reply 2 of 10
    indiekidukindiekiduk Posts: 381member
    Prob means Apple are gonna release a runner soon  :D
  • Reply 3 of 10
    cubettocubetto Posts: 1member
    Currently is in the Italian app store, and an update is available for download
  • Reply 4 of 10
    andrewj5790andrewj5790 Posts: 296member
    I see it in the US store
    joshuav700
  • Reply 5 of 10
    iSRSiSRS Posts: 49member
    “The title is basically a for-pay game that includes a few sample levels to whet player palates.”

    I have a more sinister view. As a $9.99 game it would allow a family of 6 to all have the complete game for $9.99. As an IAP? That same family pays $59.94
    joshuav700
  • Reply 6 of 10
    joshuav700joshuav700 Posts: 2member
    I deleted the game months ago because it got a little boring. I just searched it up and downloaded it in the App Store. I live in the US. #fakenews much?
  • Reply 7 of 10
    joshuav700joshuav700 Posts: 2member
    iSRS said:
    “The title is basically a for-pay game that includes a few sample levels to whet player palates.”

    I have a more sinister view. As a $9.99 game it would allow a family of 6 to all have the complete game for $9.99. As an IAP? That same family pays $59.94
    I paid the $9.99 the first time I downloaded the game. I regret it because the game wasn't as fun as I thought it was going to be.. I ended up deleting it a few days later.
  • Reply 8 of 10
    ndirishfan1975ndirishfan1975 Posts: 159member
    iSRS said:
    “The title is basically a for-pay game that includes a few sample levels to whet player palates.”

    I have a more sinister view. As a $9.99 game it would allow a family of 6 to all have the complete game for $9.99. As an IAP? That same family pays $59.94
    I agree which is why I didn’t pay for it. If it would have been a Pay game that worked on family share I would have happily paid the 9.99 but not as in IAP for everyone in my family. Would have been 39.96 for me.  
  • Reply 9 of 10
    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    ndirishfan1975 said:
    iSRS said:
    “The title is basically a for-pay game that includes a few sample levels to whet player palates.”

    I have a more sinister view. As a $9.99 game it would allow a family of 6 to all have the complete game for $9.99. As an IAP? That same family pays $59.94
    I agree which is why I didn’t pay for it. If it would have been a Pay game that worked on family share I would have happily paid the 9.99 but not as in IAP for everyone in my family. Would have been 39.96 for me.  
    if you use the same apple store login to purchase it, you only pay once - you can then use 2 separate nintendo log-in's to play. I did this to get the game on my son's iPad and my iPhone. 
  • Reply 10 of 10
    JanNLJanNL Posts: 327member
    joshuav700 said:
    I deleted the game months ago because it got a little boring. I just searched it up and downloaded it in the App Store. I live in the US. #fakenews much?
    Then it's a "different" download... The app is already in your account, you just removed it from your iDevice.
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