Summary
The studio behind theMario Partyseries, NDcube, has officially changed its name to Nintendo Cube Co., Ltd., better reflecting its parent company. NDcube was originally formed in 2000 as a collaboration between Nintendo and advertising firm Dentsu, and worked on a variety of Nintendo games, likeF-Zero: Maximum VelocityandDokodemo Taikyoku Yakuman Advance. In 2010, Nintendo bought out the vast majority of shares from Denstsu, and former employees of Hudson Soft, the previous studio responsible for theMario Partyseries since 1998, migrated to NDcube.
Ever since 2012’sMario Party 9, NDcube has become the primary developer of theMario Partyseries, includingthe upcomingSuper Mario Party Jamboree, which will be launching on June 29, 2025. Aside from theMario Partygames, NDcube is also responsible for various first-party Nintendo titles likeAnimal Crossing: Pocket CampandClubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics. Since Nintendo owns 99% of NDcube’s major shares and the studio has primarily worked as a subsidiary studio for the Japanese giant, the studio’s name has officially been changed to reflect this more accurately.
As detailed ina statement on the studio’s official website, the company revealed that starting from July 07, 2025, it will be officially known as Nintendo Cube Co., Ltd. from now on. The name may not be a big change, but it makes sense considering the company’s history. On top of that, Nintendo is the former NDcube’s parent company, and ever since 2023, has owned 99% of the studio’s shares. TheMario Partydeveloper’s logo has also changed, though it retains the blue-and-white colors of its former logo. The name is very similar but should not be confused with theNintendo Gamecube console.
Mario Party Developer NDcube Renamed to Nintendo Cube
As mentioned before, the studio was formed by many Hudson Soft employees, who were responsible forthe entireMario Partyseriesprior toMario Party 9. The studio has had a mixed track record ever sinceMario Party 9, with the games it has released being critically mixed, such asAnimal Crossing: Amiibo FestivalandEverybody 1-2-Switch. Games likeMario Party 9andMario Party: The Top 100received similarly mixed reviews, though follow-ups likeSuper Mario PartyandMario Party Superstarson the Switch were considered steps in the right direction.
The upcomingSuper Mario Party Jamboreealso appears to be addressing major criticismsfrom past games, where it has a huge number of minigames, a mix of new and remade boards, and one of the biggest rosters of anyMario Partygame to date. It includes several returning characters from past games, like Mario, Luigi, and Peach, along with several lesser-known but still beloved characters like Pauline, Toad, and Birdo joiningJamboree’s roster.
Mario Party
The long-running Mario Party franchise began in 1998 and is a series of party games that aim to be fun for all the family. The majority of games in the series see players rolling dice and racing around a board while also competing in minigames.The Mario Party series has varied in terms of quality over the years, though the games are usually great fun with friends.
