For almost 30 years, actor Charles Martinet was the voice of Nintendo’s most iconic character: Mario. He additionally lendt vocals to Luigi, Wario, and others. When Nintendo confirmed in August that Martinet had basically retired from that position, followers turned fixated on who would voice the “mama mias” in the franchise’s next game, Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

For some other recreation, that degree of curiosity in a single character’s voice could be outsized, however for this one it meant followers pored over a one-second clip forward of the sport’s launch, saying “Wonder” in an effort to suss out Martinet’s involvement.

Mario and Martinet have been intrinsically intertwined since his first position in an offshoot instructional recreation, Mario Teaches Typing, in 1994, and the extra extensively identified Super Mario 64 in 1996. For older followers, Martinet is the voice of their childhood. He’s as a lot a champion for the character as he’s a paid actor; he’s been the main target of numerous press options, panels, and interviews about what has turn out to be the position of his lifetime—one he would have gladly continued doing till, by his personal phrases, he dropped dead. When the information got here that he was leaving Mario behind, two questions emerged: Why dismantle a relationship that has clearly been useful to each events? And who may change an actor so cherished by followers?

At the time, Nintendo had no intention of answering that query, declining to offer specifics at the same time as retailers like IGN devoted entire investigations to hashing out who will get to name themselves the beloved plumber now. According to Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser, the corporate needed gamers to “discover and be surprised” with Mario’s new voice in Wonder. Some couldn’t wait; information miners leaked the credits (hardly a sizzling catch with most video games) after getting their fingers on a demo.

On October 13, followers acquired their reply. “Incredibly proud to have voiced Mario and Luigi in Super Mario Bros. Wonder,” voice actor Kevin Afghani posted unceremoniously on X. “Thanks to Nintendo for inviting me into the Flower Kingdom!” Afghani isn’t any newcomer, with credit like Genshin Impact and Dragon Ball R&R, however his family recognition hardly matches that of Martinet’s—or Chris Pratt, who voiced Mario in this year’s animated film.

Afghani’s smaller profile may clarify the shortage of a purple carpet rollout, however maybe the best a part of this thriller was not who the brand new Mario could be. It was why Nintendo was so quiet about it. In Wonder, Mario sticks to the standard exclamations—“Wahoo!”—so it is not prefer it’s a brand new voice and he is calling for a revolt within the streets. Why the secrecy?

“We want people to enjoy the gameplay experience, and if they enjoyed the voice behind the gameplay experience, that’s what’s most important to us, not necessarily highlighting [Mario’s actor],” Bowser instructed WIRED final week.

Still, Afghani isn’t only a voice, however the voice of the character Nintendo has chosen to place ahead as its mascot, main motion pictures and filling theme parks. His transfer into the position is a momentous event following Martinet’s transfer away from the character.