We're honestly not 100% sure if this isn't an elaborate fake, but we'll leave it to you to make your own minds up. This Reddit thread makes a convincing argument for the existence of a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle for the Nintendo Switch. The theory is that this will be announced later today in the Nintendo Direct for ARMS and Splatoon 2, which makes sense.
The leak originated at the Russian Nintendo store, however you can only view that site from within Russia. So you'd need to use a proxy to view it.
The box art is slightly different between the grey and neon version and something doesn't look quite right about them. But then again, what do we know about marketing in the Russian territory?
Let us know if you think this is legit with a comment below. If you haven't bought a Nintendo Switch yet, would you welcome such a bundle?
[source reddit.com]
Comments (69)
If it turns out to be true, the Switch will be even more in demand than it already is.
Looks off. Also wouldn't it be a little odd to see a boxed bundle so soon in the Switch lifecycle (assuming we're talking about value) when the system is already selling like hotcakes on its own?
Fake as hell
Well there goes 1 surprise from tonight. Though it is strange that they had 2 different photos.
But then there is a link.
https://mir.nintendo.ru/shop/product/komplekt-nintendo-switch-seryjj-mario-kart-8-deluxe-nintendo-0711583170225
Unfortunately, it says I cannot access the site from this country. So I'm going to put on my Russian disguise and will report back in a few minutes.
Edit: My disguise didn't work.
So fake (the image), but of course this is a real product.
It's hillarious to me how the same people who say "The Wii U was a massive failure nobody bought it" are now saying "Why is Nintendo releasing an enhanced port for full price???"
Maybe just maybe it's beacause there are still a ton of people without MK8 in their library.
I mean, it only makes sense. Why wouldn't they bundle the Switch with a hot new game?
Er... So why is the grey Joycon version on the front of the box and the neon version pictured on the side?!
If that image is fake, man that's a good fake.
Nintendo's official groups on VK (a social network in Russia) are silent about it; MK8 itself HAS been put up for preorders, though. Maybe the Direct will throw light on that indeed. "Mir Nintendo" website doesn't even allow visitors from Belarus (what's the big idea anyway?), and proxies don't seem to help.
The picture of the dock and controller is also a picture already used on the Nintendo site. It's the second picture that appears on a Google image search for 'Nintendo Switch'.
Looks fake. I mean, look closely at the bottom right corner of the thumbnail image. Am I the only one who sees that the boxart of the game is breaking the boundaries of the whole package?
It looks like the game is sticking out of the box
@ZarRotti I assumed it was supposed to be the actual game box held up against the console box rather than an image on the box.
Fake news. Thanks reddit!
As long as I'll be able to play as Baraka in MK8, I'll be happy.
Probably fake given that the side of the box in the main photo has the Neon Joy-Con displayed while the front of the box has the Grey Joy-Con system. If this were real, it should have only had one version of the Switch displayed on all sides of the box.
FAKE NEWS. The MK8 game case doesn't even align with the Switch box....wow
In addition to what has already been pointed out, Nintendo wouldn't bundle a physical copy of the game with the system (which is what is depicted on the box)... would they?
My take: it's real, but Nintendo will also announce that until production catches up, each box will contain a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a voucher for a Switch console, to be redeemed at a later date.
Thera are really two bundles In Russian store. Gray and neon versions.
Besides the bad box art, it's too soon, they wouldn't announce this until September for a holiday release which I'm almost certain is what they did w/ MK8 and Wii U, release the game in May, bundle it that holiday when SSB4 released. And I'm expecting SBB4 Complete to release this holiday alongside a Switch bundle.
That said, if this is only for Russia I suppose it's possible, I have no idea whatsoever how Ntinedo consoles sell there. I didn't even know they did sell there. And after seeing a PS4 and 3DS game in 1 bundle, well the gates of heck are open, anything is possible now.
Does seem like a good bundle for the holiday though, even if SSB4 Complete isn't a thing there's still Mario Odyssey. And hopefully at least 1 other game Nintendo will tell us about at E3 if SSB4 isn't a thing. Pikmin 4 would be nice, if it isn't already on 3DS.
Very fake looking but hey it will happen eventually anyway.
Nah I think fake as Agree it's too soon for a bundle . I would be a bit annoyed if this is true as I bought at launch when no bundles were available
The games corners are outside of the box...also, with the box being shown at an angle, the angle doesn't go with the game cartridge (which the game is not at an angle). Also, the colored joy cons on the side, don't match the grey ones on the front. Alas, rumors that are still circulating with the Switch already out...maybe if nintendo will actually get the system out in store shelves (along with the NES Mini Classic), then people would actually know it exists!!!!
I still can't believe that botw didn't receive a limited edition switch bundle collectors edition that included the masters edition and more importantly a Zelda themed console, joycons and dock. It would have been awesome if the switch looked just like the sheikh slate.
Not to say I can tell by the pixels, but since I've seen a few shops in my time.....how has ANY news outlet taken this image as ,legit? The right side of the game box hangs off the edge of the Switch box, the left side looks 1D pasted into the Switch box, and when has Nintendo ever included a physical game + retail game case in a bundle kit in the last 5 years?
Edit: Heck make that the last 35 years. SMB+Duck Hunt and SMW had only the cart sleeve, no box.
I think it's a fake based on the alignment of the game box. Also, it's like, the least imaginative fake thing ever
IF this is true then it would frustrate a lot of Switch early adopters (unless it is priced higher than the console on its own), and the majority of Nintendo fans who already own a Wii U and MK8 already (considering the attach rate).
Feels too soon. A better deal happened with 3DS when it was struggling but I got lots of free GBA games to placate me. And Switch isn't currently struggling.
I'm thinking fake. I believe it's too early in the life of the system and they really can't even be found in stores. I got 2 on preorder and haven't seen them available anywhere. I'm looking forward to Mario Kart and Splatoon, for both my son and I. Going to be a fun summer.
Too early for a bundle. Maybe this holiday if there is plentiful supply. If not, next holiday for sure.
@KIREEK ps4 had boxed bundles for infamous and killzone within it's first 6 months and the ps4 sold extremely well at that point. I find it curios nintendo didn't launch with at least 2 bundles.
Not even a good fake image... The bundle may be real, but that image is definitely not. And if the bundle is real, I'm sure it will be a digital copy and the bundle will be $350.
I wouldn't be surprised if it's a thing, but that box art looks fake as can be in my eyes...
Agree with everyone else, it's not even a good fake, so not sure why this is such a big deal. That said, I think it would make a ton of sense if they actually released this.
It would be a good idea but that image ain't that great. The game case goes beyond the boundaries of the box.
by looking at the images, this one has logo. while the other one does not...?. I'll take this rumor a grain of salt. for now until after the official announcement if/when that happens.
I'll seriously eat a shoe. if, this "boxart" is real.
Id buy it. I love me some mario Kart action.
Looks decent, though I'll take it with a grain of salt.
Also, this is another detail that is quite similar to a 4chan Direct leak.
The box-art looks fake, since it shows a grey Nintendo Switch, but the art on the side of the box shows a colored Nintendo Switch. The second box that @SLIGEACH_EIRE showed off looks even more fake.
I still haven't managed to grab a Switch due to all the stock issues, so if this were true, I'd try my hardest to get it. While I wasn't planning originally on getting MK8D, the portability is too good to pass.
It does look fake, though.
That is terrible box art. I hope it's fake because that is just disappointing to slap a picture of the game case on there.
The MK8 WiiU box was a thing of beauty. I can't believe Nintendo would move this far backwards.
Looks fake, seen all the pictures before
The image is surely fake, but the bundle is probably real.
I can see this being a holiday item, but that image is obviously fake.
Off the top of my head, here's some issues I see with the box.
-Game case image hanging off the edge of the box.
-Controller poorly cut out on front of box, especially the grip closest to game box art.
-Edge around Switch logo blurred needlessly. Nintendo would not be so careless with branding.
-Different coloured joycons on front and side.
-Old background still showing around Switch logo. Why? Mind you this could be poor design, but my guess is that it's bad photoshopping.
Not to say a bundle couldn't be coming, but i highly doubt this is it.
Fake on so many levels. Neon on the side, grey on the front. Bad cropping. Game case sticks out. Etc.
It is fake.
Do you think Nintendo would:
a) Bundle Mario Kart so early on the console's life.
b) Have a box art without some other racers on the front.
c) Plus everything other's have said.
If real why would it have a picture of the box of a game? It'd just be a download code, not to mention on that picture it literally looks like it has a case stuck on the front of the box. I can see this ultimately happening but perhaps not this early
Totally fake. What a bad photoshop.
they dont have electricity in russia this is false
It could be a mockup instead of the actual final box. I agree though. Too soon for a bundle.
I'd love for this to be true!
@Thermoclorn
I got a physical version of Uncharted 4 when I bought the Uncharted themed, Blue PS4. Case & Disc.
That thing is most likely true. I am from Russia, this link is on Nintendo store (the site is considered the official nintendo seller). I have used this particular store for 5 years for my 3ds, wii u and switch purchases, so it is just a normal Nintendo store with this bundle available for preorder. Although the picture is different, it uses the neon joycons on the front of the box.
I'm calling fake. The front shows a grey Switch, but the side panels show neon Switch Joy-Cons.
That said, we /will/ be getting an actual bundle.
I wish this was real but I highly doubt it. Not only are there imperfections with the picture that others have pointed out, but the Switch is already in such high demand that Nintendo doesn't really need to bundle a game with the system just yet. I'd love for Nintendo to prove me wrong, though.
I find it hard to imagine a bundle before the first holiday season of the life cycle. It is selling without a bundle.
Its not a fake.. Mir.nintedo.ru is a reliable russian site, with offical production from nintendo, can confirm it. Try to use tor browser and check the link https://mir.nintendo.ru/shop/product/komplekt-nintendo-switch-neonovyjj-krasnyjj-neonovyjj-sinijj-mario-kart-8-deluxe-nintendo-0760970514999
I'm from Russia, and this seems legit since it's on the official store. The only way it's not is if someone hacked the site. I doubt it though since they haven't pulled it in 10 hours.
Oh, and the added cost compared to the non-bundled Switch is nice as well. MK8 is listed as 3699 rubles on its own and 2499 with the bundle. Saving you about 20 bucks!
For some reason I get a feeling it may be limited to certain countries. Well, since I'm in Russia this may be what pushes me into finally buying the Switch.
All will be revealed soon enough.
That is so obviously a fake if you look at the design of it. For one; why would you put the literal cover of a game over another size version of the cover art of that game? Why not just blow up the art and put the title somewhere else?
Second, the background rainbow road art is clearly divorced from the Switch logo by a Photoshop line behind which you can see the unedited box art. The margin of the Mario Kart 8 box also seems to extend beyond the actual dimensions of the bundle's box.
Finally, the Switch shown is straight-on, not tilted like it should be given the box's position to the camera.
If Nintendo had one their people mock up a bundle graphic before the final version was ready — firstly, why? — it could still be real, but the bundle box art is most definitely faked.
It would certainly sell like hot cakes if it is true.
It's legit, here's the official World of Nintendo (Мир Нинтендо) shop's preoder announcement: https://vk.com/mirnintendo?w=wall-51893306_56994
However, it's says that the bundle isn't intendent for a sales in another countries.
Eh... looks suspicious.
Also, it's available for a preoder here: https://mir.nintendo.ru/shop/product/komplekt-nintendo-switch-neonovyjj-krasnyjj-neonovyjj-sinijj-mario-kart-8-deluxe-nintendo-0760970514999
But you can't visit this site if your IP isn't in a Russian Internet segment's range, use VPN if so curious. Cost is 24 999 Russian roubles, which roughly is 440 USD.
Utterly fake. The artwork looks haphazard and there is absolutely no way, with the shortages Nintendo is experiencing already, that they have the time or the desire to create any special bundles. It's hard enough keeping the system-only SKU's in stock.
Ok this is confirmed fake, knew it. Looks so low quality and everything. Also I already pre-purchased Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on my switch, and many people bought switches, why would a bundle come out a couple months after?
@NEStalgia the first waves of the Wii included a full retail box for Wii Sports
So has this been formally debunked yet? Certainly wasn't in the Direct, was it?
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