In today’s era of ambitious crossovers, it’s easy to forget how challenging they are to pull off behind the scenes. With titles like DC x Sonic and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds managing to bring together unexpected IPs, fans may assume anything is possible. But as former Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games producer Lee Cocker revealed, not every idea makes it to the finish line.
Responding to fan questions on social media, Cocker confirmed that Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was once envisioned as something far bigger: a multi-franchise crossover featuring IPs beyond just Nintendo and SEGA.
According to Cocker, there were early concepts involving characters from Mega Man, Street Fighter, Metal Gear Solid, and even Dragon Ball. These plans would have brought in companies outside the traditional Mario and Sonic collaboration, potentially turning the game into an all-star Olympic event with industry-wide icons.
Cocker previously explained in an interview with Eurogamer why the Mario & Sonic series came to an end, and these recent comments shed more light on what could have been. While it’s unclear how far discussions progressed or how close any of these third-party deals came to fruition, it’s clear the project was once aimed at being much more ambitious.
Whether Dragon Ball and PlayStation IPs were ever seriously on the table is up for debate, but in a post-Fortnite and Smash Bros. Ultimate world, nothing seems entirely out of reach.
Stay tuned to Sonic City for more insights and behind-the-scenes stories from Sonic’s many crossovers.
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