Developer Q&A Vol. 15: Mario & Luigi: Brothership – Chapter 1 | Updates

Let me start by introducing the team behind this latest installment.

Otani: I’m Akira Otani from Nintendo, and I’ve had the privilege of being part of the Mario & Luigi journey since its second title, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. Starting with the third game, Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, I stepped into the role of producer. This latest release marks the seventh Mario & Luigi game I’ve had a hand in. My responsibilities this time were primarily overseeing the project, but I also got involved in brainstorming and collaborating with our team to shape the game content.

Fukushima: Before this project, my focus was on coordinating with external developers for titles like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch. For the current game, I took on the role of Associate Producer, working alongside the talented folks at Acquire. My tasks spanned the full development cycle, from the initial prototypes to the final release, juggling everything from schedule management to the overall shaping of the game.

Ohashi: Greetings, I’m Haruyuki Ohashi from Acquire. As the director, it was my duty to lead the planning and direct on-site development. This marks my inaugural collaboration with Nintendo, and I’m genuinely relieved and proud that we’ve completed the project smoothly.

Furuta: Hello, I’m Hitomi Furuta from Acquire, serving as the Art Director for this game. I was tasked with defining the art style and designing some of our main characters. While I’ve been a Mario enthusiast since I was young, working on this project was my entry point into the Mario & Luigi series.

Now, let’s dive into the essence of the Mario & Luigi series and what this latest installment brings to the table.

Otani: The Mario & Luigi saga began back in 2003 with its debut on the Game Boy Advance. These games blend action and RPG elements, focusing on the teamwork between Mario and Luigi. We like to term this unique genre as "Brother Action RPG" because of its distinctive gameplay style. The series is loved for its balanced mix of action, puzzles, and narratives that are uniquely engrossing in the Mario universe. What’s more exciting is that this is the first new title in nine years since Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam was released back in 2015.

So, where exactly does this new adventure unfold?

Otani: The story takes place in Concordia, a world away from the familiar Mushroom Kingdom. Mario and Luigi’s journey takes them across ocean-drifted islands, with their command center being the floating Shipshape Island. Equipped with their ship, they explore various islands filled with puzzles and battles. As they explore, they encounter various allies to help them stand firm against the looming antagonist, Zokket.

Fans got a pleasant surprise when the game was first announced during a Nintendo Direct event in June 2024, especially since it’s been nearly a decade since the last one was released.

Otani: The announcement took many by surprise both in Japan and internationally. The general sentiment was that nobody really anticipated more games in this series, so reviving it was indeed a delightful shock.

Considering it’s been a while since the last Mario & Luigi release, it’s understandable why the excitement was so palpable.

Otani: Indeed, after the release of Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, there were lengthy and numerous discussions internally about the direction of a new installment. The challenge lay in doing something fresh that could stand alongside modern hardware while retaining the timeless charm of the Mario & Luigi series. At times, it felt like an impossible task, and we even contemplated shelving the idea.

However, after tons of deliberations, we reached out to Acquire. In multiple discussions with Ohashi-san and his team, it became clear that Acquire had the potential to bring our vision of a 3D Mario & Luigi game to life. We decided to move forward with a joint development approach.

Maintaining that quintessential "Mario & Luigi" vibe was crucial. Hence, we also brought in some former members of AlphaDream who had worked on previous titles in the series to join forces on this project.