Super Mario on PS5 Would Be the End of the World

Key Takeaways

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Exclusive titles are crucial for brand value and platform identity, according to Shawn Layden, former head of PlayStation Studios.
Exclusives allow developers to fully utilize the nuances of a specific platforms hardware and control scheme.
The ongoing debate around exclusives has sparked creativity among fans, leading to projects like realistic Mario games using Unreal Engine 5.
Layden believes that focusing development on exclusive titles contributes significantly to a consoles unique capabilities and identity.

Exclusive Titles Matter: Layden on Super Mario on PS5 and Brand Value

Following Microsoft Gaming’s shift away from Xbox console exclusives, the gaming community has debated the value of exclusive titles. Shawn Layden, former head of PlayStation Studios, maintains that exclusives are crucial. He stated that the idea of “Super Mario on PS5 would be the end of the world.” Layden said, “I don’t think all games need to be console exclusives… but I accept that if you’re going to have predominantly platform companies like Sony and Nintendo… There’s enormous value for the brand having strong exclusives.” He contrasted this with Microsoft’s strategy of making Xbox available “everywhere, anywhere.” He added, “If Mario starts appearing on PlayStation, it’s the end of the world, right?” Demonstrating the continued investment in platform-specific content, recent gaming announcements include Perfect World Games’ new management game for the PS5, based on the anime GACHIAKUTA, and Kairosoft’s upcoming title for both PS5 and PS4, inspired by the manga KochiKame. Larian Studios, the developer of Baldur’s Gate 3, recently held a Q&A session with fans following a challenging week. This ongoing debate around exclusives has also fueled fan creativity, as seen in a recent resurgence of interest in the concept of a realistic Mario game:

Unreal Engine 5’s Mario Inspires AAA Projects & Last of Us Comparisons

August 18, 2022: YouTuber Funkyzeit Games uploaded “I made the Mario game I’ve always wanted: Super Mario RTX – Unreal Engine 5,” which has since garnered over 650,000 views. November 22, 2025: TikTok user masonic106 posted a video featuring realistic sound effects synced to footage from the original Super Mario Bros. game on the Nintendo Entertainment System. November 22, 2025: X user ramenoranges reshared masonic106’s video, stating intentions to create an alternate universe Super Mario project based on it. November 22, 2025: ramenoranges quoted their own X post, adding a screenshot of comments from Funkyzeit Games’ 2022 video. December 19, 2025: X user and voiceover artist RyanStewartVO posted a video with dialogue spoken over the Unreal Engine 5 Mario video. December 21, 2025: RyanStewartVO posted a second voiceover, imagining conversations between Mario and Princess Peach. The high level of detail in the viral “AAA Mario clip” led to comparisons with gameplay footage from The Last of Us: Part II. Gaming journalist Gene Park also made a similar reference in a social media post.

Platform Exclusives Amplify Console Capabilities and Identity, According to Layden

Layden believes that exclusives “make the platform sing,” emphasizing that games designed specifically for certain hardware can better utilize the nuances of that platform and its control scheme. Layden added, “Of course, the other thing about crossplatform… is when you create code for various platforms, you have to code for the weakest common denominator. But if you have exclusives, you can push everything to 11 on that platform.” (The cover image for this post is taken from the YouTube video “Former PlayStation Boss Shawn Layden Chats The Last of Us, Exclusives, E3 & More | Character Select.”) Ultimately, Layden argues that the focused development fostered by platform exclusivity allows for experiences that fully leverage a console’s capabilities, contributing significantly to its unique identity.

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