When you think about Sony's PlayStation brand, what mascots come to mind? Some obvious ones would be Ratchet & Clank, Kratos, or perhaps even Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn - but why not Mario and Bowser?
While you wouldn't normally associate the most famous video game character in the world with the PlayStation brand, one games store located in Guangzhou, China is using Mario and Bowser (in their wedding outfits from Super Mario Odyssey) to promote the PS5, and well...the entire brand - with cardboard cutouts of the characters outside the front of this shop.
Here's a look at these "unique decorations", courtesy of Niko Partners senior analyst, Daniel Ahmad:
It's definitely weird, but it's admittedly not the first time we've seen something like this. Mario and Bowser should know better - especially ahead of the launch of the Switch OLED model in China next week on 11th January.
Perhaps Mario and Bowser are just trying to help generate some excitement about Nintendo's latest Switch model. Or alternatively, it is just a joke. We may never know!
Have you ever seen something similar to the above shot, or a specific brand promoting its rival? Do you own either a PS5 or OLED model yet? Leave a comment down below.
Comments 57
In my country Indonesia, peoples make fake PS2 game copies with Mario on it.
It's sad but true.
@Anti-Matter I've never played that one is it good?
Nintendoes what Play Station don't? 🤔
@Kingrat
I have no idea why the heck those Indonesian peoples make bootleg PS2 games with Mario on it.
I don't even want to play that fake game.
ah yes, Super Mario Bros. on the PS1 really broke the mold of gaming forever, with Super Mario 3 and World being instant sensations on the PS2. though honestly Sonic the Hedgehog Sunshine and Ratchet and Clank: 3D Land are phenomenal Nintendo landmarks
@Kingrat They’re usually extremely buggy GTA San Andreas copies with mods to fit the theme of the game. Absolute garbage.
@Anti-Matter Thanks for sharing - I've seen some bootlegs myself in person, but never anything that extreme
@Anti-Matter Most of these bootleg PS2 games are just modded copies of GTA San Andreas. It's really easy to mod the PS2 version.
@Anti-Matter I collect games too though is it worth importing?
Personally, my favorite game on the Ps5 is the platform fighter Super Smash Bros. All Stars. It even features some incredibly obscure characters, like that plumber dude. What’s his name? Martha? Michael?
Ah, who cares…
Copyright, intellectual property, patents, they mean nothing in China. This ain't news.
Wouldn't be surprised if there were a cardboard cutout of Steve Jobs by the Souljaboy game system pavilion.
Is Kratos and Sackboy gonna advertise the Switch OLED in China?
@Anti-Matter Still better than Kirby Star Allies.
Yeah I said it.
Ahh Nintendo first sold the IP rights of Donkey Kong to Microsoft years ago and now they’ve also sold Mario IP to Sony. NintenDOOOOOOM!!!
Is this even news? I see a Mario poster in front of a public toilet in my neighborhood.
Ya know, I kind of like it for some reason. 🤔
Don't cha wish your mascot was hot like me?
Please tell me that this means that Nintendo and Sony will get along like with Microsoft please!
Sometimes game characters do some part time gigs in-between releases, is that so bad
The real question I want to know: how many games are they up to on the switch in China (legally) now? 10? This is funny though.
Ah yes, Mario and Bowser, classic Sony characters
@Saturn589
I own more Switch games than the total amount released in China so far.
I think Super Mario Odyssey didn't even release in China. Lol
When you ask a Chinese company what the word Copyright means, they say: “Copy…right?”
CCP stands for Cut Copy Paste
I remember hearing that you could only play video games for 3 hours a week in China. Probably are lucky just to be able to play games due to how bad their government is.
You know what would happen if they had Winnie the Pooh cutouts, lol...
Don’t let details stand in the way of great marketing
It may be dumb and childish, but things like that are pissing me off. Same as, when i worked in retail and someone asked me, if we have Zelda for Playstation (or Super Mario, or Pokemon).
Edit:
Also, Playstation has not really mascots.
@twztid13
They'd get arrested.
Winnie the Poeh is illegal in China because he looks to much like President Xi.
I am sure someone will be getting a visit from Nintendo's lawyers.
Sony Japan Executive's: Ideas on how to shift some PS5 in this country?
Get Mario to promote it!
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@HotGoomba Agreed, Kirby Star Allies was praised, I don't think I've been more let down by another game.
Looks like the PS5 in the Priest marrying a soon to be unhappy couple...
Just think what the children will look like, a Mario Jr. 😢
That "PS5" is probably a souljaboy style bootleg NES box with 9999 games
@Anti-Matter I just want to know why it's rated T
@RetroOutcast
The maker of fake game copies don't even care by putting the proper age rating on fake games.
They can put Everyone label on Rated M games then they sell it to the kids.
That's really sad reality in Indonesia.
Fake games with cute sheep skin but with hungry wolf inside.
Somehow I suspect Nintendo's usually trigger-happy lawyers will be turning a blind eye to this one.
China national sport is copyright and intellectual property theft. Everything is fake except the dirt and the poo.
When you have these two marquettes standing around in your mall storage anyway and they fit the color scheme, then I'm not really bothered. ^^
@Pod exactly what i thought. Game store just uses some availble props to make it look gestive. No big deal
It's an image from an alternate reality where the Nintendo Play Station didn't fall through.
oh boy can't wait to finaly play Mario on PS5.
I swear, China seems to be one of the countries to have the least amount of respect for intellectual property. So annoying how they treat and copy other brands overseas.
Maybe they’re trying to tell Nintendo they forgot to add crash to the roster!
Blasphemy!
(This is a joke and I need more words to reply this)
SUPER MARIO ON THE PS4.
YYYYYYYYAAAAAHHHHHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
(That was a meme)
@nessisonett "Mama mia! Here we a-go again!"
-Super Mario "Carl" Johnson
For them to have to use Switch IP to sell PS5 tells alot why PS5 aren't selling well. PS5 by themselves shouldn't need a underpowered GPU Hybrid to sell something isn't their product just goes to show they must use another product to sell Sony PS5 which is just bad showing.
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@Tasuki …you do know that intellectual property rights aren’t a thing in China, right? Do you honestly think that Ninty’s lawyers could change that? Because boy, do I have some bad news for you.
They're small cardboard cutouts that are seemingly not attached to anything. I call this out as a staged photo. Not that it matters - but yea, another dose of good old fake news...
(I am assuming someone sent the photo to Eurogamer... Unless of course this Eurogamer reporter is in China right now?)
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Screw the fact that Mario and Bowser are advertising SONY. The bigger question is why the hey is Bowser as short as Mario?
Times are tough.
Oh boy, I can't wait to play Super Mario Odyssey on the PS5!
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