Nintendo confirms Mario and Peach's relationship status as 'just friends' after 40 years

It turns out that the most enduring duo in gaming history, Mario and Princess Peach, has finally had their relationship status laid bare by Nintendo. After roughly four decades of captives and rescues, cake deliveries, Valentine’s Day shout‑outs, and cheek kisses, the famously ambiguous pair are officially defined as pals, nothing more. Nintendo’s recent update bluntly put the chatter to rest, stating that Mario and Peach are simply “good friends” who look out for one another.

This confirmation may not send the shipping community into orbit, but it does answer once and for all the biggest question behind Peach and Mario’s dynamic—yes, Nintendo has officially spelled out their relationship. As of now, all those wild fan theories about rings and romance fall into the realm of Mushroom Kingdom gossip.

Relationship status: Mario and Peach are just friends

In a move that’s equal parts surprising and overdue, Nintendo used its Nintendo Today app on July 25, 2025, to clarify that Mario and Peach’s long‑running saga is firmly rooted in friendship, not romance. In the official statement, Nintendo said:

“Princess Peach and Mario are good friends and help each other out whenever they can.”

The Nintendo Today App confirms Mario and Peach's relationship status for the first time in 40 years

They are "good friends and help each other out whenever they can" pic.twitter.com/c5yG2oLqh6

— Dexerto (@Dexerto) July 25, 2025

That’s right, after nearly 40 years of Mario jumping through fire pits, dodging Koopas, and diving into lava for Princess Peach, it’s not love driving his actions but a sense of friendly duty. Nintendo has indeed reaffirmed that their relationship is all about companionship rather than courtship.

The framing isn't entirely new. Previous signals, such as the "cutest couple" tag in Mario Party 5 or Valentine's Day tweets featuring the duo, flirted with romantic undertones. But Nintendo always stopped short of confirming anything explicitly. Until now.

Even the lore of Super Mario Odyssey plays into this ambiguity. Peach hosts a wedding with Bowser on the moon and then promptly rejects it, declaring she needs her adventure, not a husband. That scene has long been interpreted as Peach striking out on her own, independent from Mario’s expectations.

Still, Nintendo has leaned into the ambiguity for decades, occasionally portraying the pair as romantic in marketing, but never committing to anything official until this declaration via the app. The tone was clear: Mario and Peach are not lovers, they’re friends.

Social media didn't hesitate to respond. Many posts tracked the reaction to the phrasing, labeling it Mushroom Kingdom gossip, and lampooning Mario’s decades-long rescue mission as a fruitless friend‑zone marathon. One reaction quipped that Mario’s lavastic jumps and perilous rescues have gone unrewarded.

Interestingly, this pattern echoes Nintendo’s approach to other major franchise relationships; Link and Zelda, for example, remain narrative compatriots rather than canonically together, despite occasional emotional undertones.

Nintendo crafting their relationships this way might sound like it waters down the romantic tension, but it also preserves the playful mystique for fans. Whether building anticipation for future games or shaping the next Mario movie, keeping Mario and Peach in the friend zone leaves room for storylines, spin‑offs, and fan speculation.

Bottom line: Nintendo has delivered the most definitive answer yet, despite fame, fireworks, and smashed bricks, Mario and Peach remain just friends. The Mushroom Kingdom has spoken.