10 More Embarrassing Product Placements In Video Games
4. Mercedes-Benz - Mario Kart 8 & Super Mario Maker
Mercedes-Benz make cars and Mario Kart 8 is a racing game. As far as promotional team-ups go, this one isn't that weird. You could maybe argue that it's a little bit odd that Nintendo agreed to any form of sponsorship deal at all, considering they aren't really known for collaborations like this, but even that's a bit of a push.
We can all agree that the Super Mario Maker promotion was out of left field though. Putting a car in the car game is passable, but the suits at Nintendo knew they were pushing it when they shoehorned the Mercedes-Benz GLA into the mushroom stomping simulator. On the plus side, we did get this advert out of it featuring an oddly attractive live-action Mario.
Considering how forced the Super Mario Maker collaboration feels, it does make you wonder what other alternative games Nintendo considered smushing the Mercedes-Benz GLA into.
A replacement skin for Epona in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, perhaps? Or maybe even a new form for Kirby to unlock in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse? Bet someone asked Masahiro Sakurai if they could put the Mercedes-Benz GLA as a fighter in Super Smash Bros.