It seems like Nintendo is having a pretty successful launch for the SNES Classic Edition.
This is starkly different than its launch for the NES Classic Edition in November last year. At that time, the holiday period was coming up fast. Parents were more than eager to buy their children and relatives the hottest product of the year — and that just happened to be the NES Classic Edition, a miniature reissuing of the original NES, preloaded with 30 games and a controller.
But no one could find it. Nintendo didn't know it had gold in its hands. It completely underestimated how many people would want such a product. So shortages happened. Then more shortages occurred. Then scalpers began offering it on eBay more than double its original price — and some even succumbed to such insane markups.
Has Nintendo Learned Its Lesson From The NES Classic Edition?
This year, however, seems different. Nintendo knows the sheer number of people who want its product. Several months ago, it had revealed that a follow-up, the SNES Classic Edition, would arrive, and it will have 21 games and two controllers to boot.
The NES Classic Edition truly was one of its failed product launches, resulting in a total cancelation of the console. But the SNES Classic Edition, while still being heavily clamored for, now seems possible to buy. Nintendo has seemingly improved its supply chain to accommodate overwhelming demand. Sorry, scalpers.
Of course, not everyone got one — and not everyone who wants one will get one. Nintendo still needs to brush up on its supply chain situation, but reports show things are going well, with many stores across different cities well-stocked with Nintendo's new nostalgia machine.
That's not to say people won't have trouble buying it. While early signs show a positive launch, Nintendo must follow it up with a consistent supply, lest the NES Classic Edition fiasco repeats. For its part, Nintendo said it has dramatically increased SNES Classic Edition production, though it failed to confirm just how many it made.
So despite some early preorder chaos, things seem to be looking good for the SNES Classic Edition. Still, stocks will eventually run out, and Nintendo doesn't really update about when certain retailers get stocks, at least not all the time. But here's hoping Nintendo has finally learned its lesson from last year, even though, as it said, it gets consumer demand wrong sometimes.
SNES Classic Edition
The SNES Classic Edition is a miniature version of the original SNES released in the '90s. It comes preloaded with 21 games, including Star Fox 2, which has never been released previously. It comes with two controllers instead of just one, and they have longer cords now, thank heavens.
The console launched on Sept. 29, retailing for $79.99. Get one while you can.
