Mario is not playable in the Rayman DLC for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope because the developers wanted to focus on the comedic dynamic between the Rabbids and Rayman. They felt that Mario's inclusion would make it feel like two separate IPs combined, whereas Rayman was treated as a guest character. The trio of Rabbid Mario, Rabbid Peach, and Rayman was chosen for their comedic synergy and narrative arc, gradually becoming a trio of heroes. The creative director also discussed why Rosalina wasn't playable in the main game and expressed interest in making a new Rayman game.
The Last Spark Hunter, the second DLC for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, is now available on Nintendo Switch for those with the Season Pass. The DLC features new enemies, maps, and missions set in the Melodic Gardens, and introduces a dangerous creation called Mecha King Bob-Omb. The last DLC, focused on Rayman, will be released in 2023.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has admitted that the underperformance of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope was likely due to the publisher's decision to ignore Nintendo's advice to "only do one iteration [of Mario] on each machine." Guillemot acknowledged that they should have waited for the next Nintendo console to release the game, as Nintendo advised, instead of releasing it on the same console as its predecessor.
