The Legendary Voice of Nintendo's Mario, Charles Martinet, Announces Retirement

After a stellar stint voicing Nintendo's - and perhaps the world's - most iconic video game character, Charles Martinet has decided to hang up his hat. The retirement announcement from the voice behind Nintendo's legendary character Mario sent a ripple through the gaming industry on Monday.

Nintendo of America took to social media to broadcast the retirement of the beloved voice actor with an emotional tribute, acknowledging Martinet's role in creating a piece of gaming history.

While Martinet has graciously retired from offering his voice for Mario's roles, he will not be departing from Nintendo entirely. A new chapter unfurls for the iconic actor as Nintendo retains him in the unique role of a 'Mario ambassador.'

'My new adventure begins! You are all Numba One in my heart!' exclaimed an enthused Martinet on social media, announcing his new role at the gaming giant.

Nintendo expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Martinet for his pivotal role in making Mario live and resonate with millions of fans worldwide. The company plans to release an exclusive video message featuring both Martinet and Shigeru Miyamoto, the creative genius who gave rise to the Mario franchise, as a farewell gesture for their star voice actor.

Interestingly, Martinet's announcement comes hot on the heels of the global success of the 'Super Mario Bros. Movie.' Although Martinet did not voice the character for this blockbuster movie, he made an unforgettable cameo.

The cult movie 'Super Mario Bros. Movie' had audiences across the globe captivated and went on to break records in the box office in early 2023, only to be later toppled by another major release, 'Barbie', in July.

As the Super Mario video game series continues to create waves, with more than 430 million copies sold worldwide and an estimated gross revenue of over $55 billion, Martinet's voice will always echo in the game's universe.

For past several years, Martinet's voice has been the soul of Mario in all incarnities, from the classic platforming titles to games like the Super Smash Bros. series where Mario was but one amidst a diverse ensemble.

While Martinet steps down from his iconic role, speculation is rife over who will be the new voice of Mario. As of now, Nintendo remains tight-lipped about this change, adding to the suspense and anticipation among the millions of fans of this world-famous character.