Summary
A newNintendo SwitchOLED model with aMariotheme is on the horizon, a well-known industry insider said, in addition to leaking its name and release window, among other details. Nintendo already launchedaMario-themed Switch bundleback in March, although that product only included the base edition of the console.
The most expensive variant of Nintendo’s hybrid console was treated to three distinct editions since its late 2021 debut. Thefirst such Switch OLED special edition was based onSplatoon 3, having been followed by models themed afterPokemon Scarlet and VioletandThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
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The fourth such variant of the console will feature theMariotheme, industry insider Billbil-kun reports, adding that the device will be marketed as the Nintendo Switch OLED Model - Mario Red Edition. The handheld will allegedly ship with red Joy-Cons in the classic Neon Red shade, as well as a matching docking station. It might also have red accents on some of its protruding elements such as volume control buttons, as per the same source. Nintendo is reportedly planning to have the newSwitchOLED model hit the store shelves “before October.” With August now coming to a close, that leaves September 2023 as its likeliest release window.
Its actual reveal might come even sooner, not least because there’sa Nintendo Direct scheduled for August 31. The Japanese gaming giant said that its next broadcast will be focused onSuper Mario Bros. Wonder, so an accompanying Switch model announcement could certainly be on the cards. The console’s purported September release window also fits Nintendo’s track record with special edition Switch OLED models, all of which hit the market around a month ahead of the games they were themed after. For clarity,Super Mario Bros. Wonderlaunches October 20.
In terms of pricing, Billbil-kun reports that the Mario Red Edition of the console will retail at €349.99 in Europe. That’s in line with the price tag of the regular OLED-equipped model and should translate to $349.99 stateside. The new variant of the console will presumably be available internationally, as was the case with all existing special editions of the Switch OLED.
As to the veracity of this leak, Billbil-kun has an extremely consistent track record with both hardware and video game leaks, making it likely that this new Switch model is indeed on the horizon. The rumored device is poised to debut as be the thirdMario-themed Switch offering of 2023; aside from the aforementioned bundle including the base variant of the console, Nintendo also released a similar package containinga white Switch OLED model withMarioaccessoriesas part of its latest Mar10 Day celebrations.
