Super Mario Maker 2 should be a big title for Nintendo’s summer lineup, and fans are pumped for online multiplayer. Unfortunately, the addition of online multiplayer in Super Mario Maker 2 comes with a major caveat according to a Nintendo representative at a press event last week. The caveat is you can only play with random players online, whether you’re seeking out co-op or competitive play.

The only way to play multiplayer specifically with friends is through one system or local wireless play. That immediately negates the purpose of having online at all. Sure, the option to play with randoms is great if you don’t have a friend to mash goombas with, but come on now. This is another two steps back after a slight step forward, a trend too familiar to Nintendo and online multiplayer functionality.

Nintendo’s reasoning is that, with global leaderboards, the matchmaking for competitive play would be compromised if you could play with friends. That limitation also extends to co-op play as well, despite co-op play not being leaderboard driven. Sure, you can hop into couch co-op with a buddy who is over to play, but that’s not always feasible. In fact, most people are gaming with friends online rather than in person.

Four-player multiplayer is an option on all courses in Course World in Super Mario Maker 2, but that only works if they’re all present or on a system link. Super Mario Maker 2 courses are also more diversely designed, such as puzzles or auto-playing levels, as opposed to racing to the flagpole or completing a course objective, like collecting 99 coins.

Those new course features can also include defeating a boss character like Bowser, giving one player bragging rights among friends. Unfortunately, that means having to play with friends in person, or randoms online, a huge detriment to the social experience of the upcoming title.

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