If you've been anywhere near the internet over the past few hours, we imagine you've already seen the recently-announced Animal Crossing-themed Switch console. Isn't it just the loveliest thing you've ever seen?
Anyway, if you can't quite afford this latest model, or if you want to pretend you have one without having to pay for it, Nintendo seemingly has you covered. On its official Japanese site, Nintendo is offering a replica box without anything inside for 550 yen (approx. £4 / $5). As if we've suddenly been placed inside a weird, alternate, Ikea-based universe, you even have to assemble the thing yourself when it arrives; thankfully Nintendo provides instructions:
At first, you might find yourself wondering what on Earth has possessed Nintendo to do such a thing, but it does actually make quite a lot of sense. For collectors, owning pristine boxes to limited-edition consoles is a must - just check eBay to see how many empty boxes get sold every day - so why not cash in on that? Nintendo actually did the very same thing with Splatoon 2 in 2017.
Let's face it, we'll all buy pretty much anything with a Nintendo logo on it - and Nintendo knows it.
We should note that this box-only option has only been announced for Japan so far. Nintendo says that the replica box will not have any warranty info or barcodes on it, nor will it contain any of the leaflets found inside the real thing. Japanese fans will also be able to buy the console's Joy-Con and Dock separately, which makes considerably more sense.
What a world we live in, eh?
[source store.nintendo.co.jp]
Comments 66
What’s next? Selling the scent of a Nintendo Switch?
Wow
Consumerism at its best
Interesting that the box art shows another island with a house on it.
I guess we shall be visiting?
As a collector having an empty box without the actual product will be more of a shame that dont having anything.
This is the worst Labo yet.
I would love to buy a few packs of 10 inner polythene Nintendo Switch bags. It would really make my year
@jamesthemagi Switch fanatics encourage this nonsense.
@Franz Quick Nintendo, write that down!
Anyway, I can sort of see the appeal (it looks nice), but I would care more about the actual contents.
Imagine seeing that under the Christmas tree only to discover that it was empty
Does the box come with a code to download the Switch itself?
I need to get one of these for a joke present 😂
Collectors: It would be nice if I could get a replacement box if I need one.
Random haters: I can't believe Nintendo is doing something so stupid!
Everyone else: Ehh. Doesn't bother me!
It's me or joycons have two colors on this edition (colored front and white back) ?
@fanacube57 yeah they're white on the back
Now people are gonna get empty New Horizons Switch boxes when they buy the special edition Switch off of eBay or something.
Makes sense as you can buy the pieces except the back plate in japan. So you can "build" your own limited edition console. Which I think is great rather than forcing people to buy a new console every time a pretty design comes out. Nintendo had a good idea with the faceplates from the 3ds and the joycons.
I may buy a box myself.
Wouldn't this box be disregarded by collectors since it does not appear to include the folding cardbox pieces meant to separate the elements inside the package ? And I'm not even getting into serial numbers and barcode issues...
Isn't this just a piece of promotion meant for stores and shops to display behind windows and on shelves ? Usually such items are free, but since most of them remain in a storage room or are given away to customers, this is a way for Nintendo to ship a product that will actually be displayed, because ordered and paid for.
Just my two rupees anyway.
Nintendo is really good at selling cardboard.
@RogerFederer yes good point, this could very well be aimed at retailers...
''For collectors, owning pristine boxes to limited-edition consoles is a must''
''Nintendo says that the replica box will not have [...] barcodes on it''
Then it's not really the same, is it? So I wonder if collectors will even care, because it's not an exact replica.
@Mii_duck For $20 that island is all yours
I'd rather have the contents really.
of the actual box not the nothing box.
“Nintendo says that the replica box will not have any warranty info or barcodes on it, nor will it contain any of the leaflets found inside the real thing.”
Real Switch box: “You’re comparing yourself to me? You’re not even good enough to be my fake!”
Replica Switch box: “I’ll make you eat those words!”
The real question is if they are going to sell those joycons separately. I’d like that set.
Why is the Main switch screen still black it would look nicer if the color would match the dock or just a light brown or something the black doesn't fit the joy cons or the dock.
...I mean, it's cheap, but...why?
This is ridiculous and I actually kind of love it.
I just wish the box was bigger, so the box with an actual Switch could fit inside it.
People do buy empty boxes.
I sold my empty normal switch box on eBay for 14 pounds. I then sold my let’s go pikachi empty Nintendo switch box for 18 pounds. I don’t have space for empty boxes. I did the same for wii, Wii u, 3ds, 2ds etc.
With the recent announcement that outer worlds is a empty box, It seems being a Nintendo consumer nowadays is slowly becoming a collective of packaged air!
It's good for decorations and stuff so I had no problem with it. Now what Nintendo needs to do is sell some of their cartridges and allow us an option to transfer our digital copy of game to physical since not many games had physical release.
@BarefootBowser Sweet. It’ll be the first pair I buy since launch. Love the colors.
Whats in the box? No, dont answer
@mother_brain_85
The same goes for me too..
Can't see why not. If there's a market for it.
Gonna be a lot of unhappy people that buy a Switch from Ebay, Amazon, etc and receive this box with some rocks inside it for weight. Really bad move Nintendo. You just made the scammers' jobs a lot easier.
@Marios-love-child
Genius idea. Makes me wish that I had a kid to prank like that. And then, of course, produce another box... also empty.
cackle
@Octane On the contrary they will buy more because it's a variant of the same box but not equal and crazy fanboys collect everything Nintendo makes just for a minor detail, they even buy duplicate copies of the same game from different regions and one to keep it seal just look collectors in YouTube if you don't believe me
Any bets on the percentage increase of eBay/Amazon fraud that will be created by this decision?
EDIT: Spelling is difficult, even more so when your browser thinks it knows better than you.
Good God, what some people will pay for!
Still more awesome than amiibo Festival.
@nhSnork Yes, you simply input the code into the nearest 3D printer, and voila!
@Marios-love-child excellent prank idea 😁
Thanks a lot Nintendo for giving people the perfect opportunity to prank Animal Crossing fans
For those looking for another dock. Nintendo sales them refurbished online for 39.99 with the same one year warranty.
Nintendo proved it could sell cardboard and empty cases. If they figure out a way to sell air, they'll sell that too with a monthly subscription
I would say there's a good chance that a bunch of collecters out there will be buying this box. So yes it does actually make sense for Nintendo to try selling these, it will cost them relatively nothing to produce for a chance to make a bit of profit from it.
A Hahahaha hahahaha ahahaha omg lolz
Now we know what they doing with the left over LABO cardboard 😂😅
Nintendo sinking to a new low again.
I wonder whats up with selling card boxes over and over again.
It makes Nintendo look bad, and it doesen't help that they have insane prices on their phone games.
Next up, a Switch Game Card flavored Lollipop.
Consumerism is a cancer that needs to be eliminated before it eliminates us as a species.
@Mii_duck That is the same box art on the case. The island in the background has been there all along.
I love those joycon colors though 👍
I actually did this for Splatoon 2. I took out the inserts from my OG Switch box and put them in the Splatoon 2 box to display. It seemed like a funny thing to do at the time but I'm glad I did. The box is a great display piece in my collection. Then...America got the Splatoon 2 bundle a few months later and I felt silly haha.
I would buy this. When I get it in the mail I would assemble it. Then I would open it up and go WTH is my Switch? Next, I would close it and then open and go WTH is my Switch? I would do this for hours because you know, everybody does this with empty boxes. Right?
I’d be up for replica boxes of old SNES games, I’m missing a few of mine.
@Franz Or Switch game card flavored cereal.
@Franz : I used to always sniff the manual of new DS games.
Speaking of, I might just sniff one now.
I'm gonna be honest, I think this is a cool idea! I have no intentions of buying me another Switch but i sure would not mind displaying that cool Animal Crossing Switch box in my collection so I might actually buy one.
@Silly_G Sniff one for me, too!
@Franz : I've just smelt a few and they don't smell the way they used to.
Perhaps the smell has worn off or my nostrils ain't what they used to be.
this is kinda criminal, why would a company like nintendo do that?
It’s the next toy-con for Labo....
Nintendo has done this before...its so useless!
And you just know someone will defend this.
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/01/animal_crossing_new_horizons_joy-con_and_switch_dock_to_be_sold_separately_in_japan
This makes a lot of sense. Somebody who has a normal Switch can buy the Joy-Cons, Dock, and box and have an Animal Crossing Switch. I can't believe that nobody has put this together yet.
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