Super Mario FX Runs Mario 64 on SNES as Nintendo Shutters Mario Kart Tour

A YouTuber has achieved what was once considered impossible: running Super Mario 64 on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) using a custom engine and the console’s Super FX chip. Meanwhile, Nintendo has officially discontinued its free-to-play mobile game Mario Kart Tour, marking another closure in its mobile gaming portfolio.

A YouTuber’s Technical Workaround for a ‘Impossible’ Project

According to Gizmodo, Tobias Friedly, a YouTuber behind the channel Game of Tobi, has developed a work-in-progress project called Super Mario FX. The project enables Super Mario 64, originally released for the Nintendo 64, to run on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) using the console’s Super FX chip.

The SNES, a 16-bit console with a 3.58 MHz CPU and 256 KB of RAM, was never designed to handle a game like Super Mario 64, which ran on the Nintendo 64’s 64-bit CPU at 93.75 MHz and 4 MB of RAM. Friedly’s solution bypasses these hardware limitations by creating a custom engine that utilizes the original game’s assets.

The Super FX chip, originally developed to enable rudimentary 3D graphics on the SNES, plays a critical role in the project. There is a persistent rumor, reported by Gizmodo, that Nintendo itself attempted—and failed—to run Super Mario 64 on the SNES, making Friedly’s achievement a nod to that elusive goal.

Friedly’s project is not a direct port but a reimagined version of Super Mario 64, constrained by the SNES’s technical limits. The most significant challenge has been fitting levels and textures into a 2 MB size cap, a fraction of the Nintendo 64’s capacity.

Mario Kart Tour Joins Nintendo’s Mobile Graveyard

Nintendo officially ended service for Mario Kart Tour on September 29, 2026, at 11:00 p.m. PT, according to Engadget. The free-to-play mobile game, launched in 2019, featured multiple currencies and gacha mechanics, but Nintendo announced its shutdown in July 2026.

The game’s in-game currency sales and subscription auto-renewals were halted in July, and after shutdown, the app will only display player statistics. Unlike some discontinued apps, Nintendo has not converted Mario Kart Tour into an offline title.

This shutdown is part of a broader trend of Nintendo discontinuing its mobile games. Other titles like Miitomo, Dr. Mario World, and Dragalia Lost have also been shut down, signaling the company’s shift away from the freemium mobile gaming model.

Background: The Super FX Chip and Nintendo’s Mobile Strategy

The Super FX chip was a graphics accelerator designed for the SNES, enabling it to render rudimentary 3D polygon graphics. It was originally speculated to have been developed for a 3D Mario game, though no such title was ever released on the SNES.

Nintendo’s mobile gaming strategy began ambitiously with titles like Miitomo and Super Mario Run, but over time, the company has scaled back its efforts. Many of its mobile games, including Mario Kart Tour, were free-to-play with monetization reliant on in-app purchases and subscriptions. With the shutdown of multiple titles, Nintendo appears to be reevaluating its approach to the mobile market.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

This story highlights two trends that founders should watch closely. First, Friedly’s project demonstrates how technical constraints—even in seemingly impossible scenarios—can be creatively overcome with deep expertise and experimentation. For startups in gaming, hardware, or software, this underscores the value of pushing boundaries, even if the end result isn’t commercially viable. It also shows how nostalgia and retro gaming continue to inspire innovation, which could be a niche but passionate market for indie developers.

Second, Nintendo’s decision to discontinue Mario Kart Tour and other mobile titles reflects a broader shift in the freemium gaming model. The shutdown reinforces that reliance on live-service mobile games carries long-term risks, especially when player engagement declines or monetization struggles. For founders in the gaming or app space, this serves as a reminder to diversify revenue streams, plan for sustainability beyond initial hype, and consider the exit strategy early—whether that’s shutting down gracefully or pivoting to offline models.

Key takeaways

• Tobias Friedly’s 'Super Mario FX' project runs 'Super Mario 64' on the SNES using a custom engine and the Super FX chip, overcoming significant hardware limitations.
• The SNES’s 16-bit architecture and 256 KB RAM, compared to the Nintendo 64’s 4 MB, required creative workarounds to fit levels into a 2 MB cap.
• Nintendo officially ended service for Mario Kart Tour on September 29, 2026, following its July 2026 announcement.
• The shutdown aligns with Nintendo’s pattern of discontinuing mobile games, including Miitomo and Dr. Mario World, without converting them to offline titles.

FAQ

What is Super Mario FX?

Super Mario FX is a work-in-progress project by YouTuber Tobias Friedly that enables Super Mario 64 to run on the SNES using the console’s Super FX chip. It is not a direct port but a custom engine designed to bypass the SNES’s hardware limitations.

Why was Mario Kart Tour discontinued?

Nintendo discontinued Mario Kart Tour as part of a broader pattern of shutting down its mobile games. The game, which relied on freemium monetization, was officially ended on September 29, 2026, with no plans to transition it to an offline title.

Will Nintendo release more mobile games in the future?

While Nintendo has not announced a definitive shift in strategy, the shutdown of multiple mobile titles—including Mario Kart Tour, Miitomo, and Dr. Mario World—suggests the company may be scaling back its freemium mobile gaming efforts.

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