In one of the most preposterous leaks ever, code forSuper Mario 64has revealed that Luigi was at some point in time considered to be included in the game. Preposterous in thatSuper Mario 64was released on the Nintendo 64 in 1996, 24 years ago. It took 24 years forSuper Mario 64fans to discover this secret, something that’s been rumored and meme’d about for just as long.
As for what’s changed in the past 24 years that’s allowedSuper Mario 64fans to finally discover this secret, it comes down to a major leak from Nintendo itself. Though, it’s just one of many over the past several months. This leak specifically included the source code for games includingStar Fox,Yoshi’s Island,Mario Kart,The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and others. But even among those incredible leaks, the gem of the lot was source code for a pre-launch build ofSuper Mario 64namedUltra 64 Mario Brothers.
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Thecode forUltra 64 Mario Brothersfeatures a copyright of Aug 12, 2025, implying that it was a late-in-development build of what would becomeSuper Mario 64. Luigi was apparently actively in development and still planned forSuper Mario 64, but the development apparently ran out of time.
What exists of the Luigi code forSuper Mario 64is surprisingly robust. Luigi has texture files that could have transformed the playableMario modelinto his brother. There are even voice files, though whether they’re complete isn’t clear. What’s lacking is evidence of these files' implementation. There’s no menu choice for picking Luigi and there’s no evidence the game would recognize a difference between Mario and Luigi in-game.
Some modders have even taken the opportunity to swap in some of the leaked Luigi assets intoSuper Mario 64. The resultinghalf-Mario half-Luigiamalgamation isn’t pretty, but it’s maybe the closest Luigi will ever get to having a starring role inSuper Mario 64.
The revelation doesn’t mean anything material for fans ofSuper Mario 64. It doesn’t mean that Luigi is hidden somewhere in the released version ofSuper Mario 64. But it is a very cool Easter egg of sorts. Luigi could have been in the game, but was ultimately left behind. Another sad story inLuigi’s past, but one to which fans can at least say, “L IS real.”
Super Mario 64is available on Nintendo 64, Wii, and Wii U.
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