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RIP NES Classic: Nintendo Is Discontinuing Its Retro Console

Jennifer M Wood|
Nintendo/Facebook
Nintendo/Facebook | Nintendo/Facebook

Last July, we were all abuzz about the news that Nintendo was bringing more than two dozen of its classic old-school games back in one tiny package via the Nintendo NES Classic. Over the next several months we wrote about the retro game system on several occasions, including how the video game giant was bringing back its Nintendo Power Line and how hackers were adding even more games to the system. But mostly we were writing about how damn-near impossible it was to even find an NES Classic Edition to buy, as Nintendo woefully underestimated demand for the product (which, let’s face it, could have been the point all along).

The bad news for those of you who’ve still been actively trying to purchase the NES Classic is that the seemingly impossible-to-find system is now going to be really impossible to find. Today, Nintendo announced that this month’s batch of NES Classic Edition consoles will be the last batch it produces.

When asked for further comment on the surprising decision, a Nintendo representative told IGN:

“Throughout April, NOA territories will receive the last shipments of Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition systems for this year. We encourage anyone interested in obtaining this system to check with retail outlets regarding availability. We understand that it has been difficult for many consumers to find a system, and for that we apologize. We have paid close attention to consumer feedback, and we greatly appreciate the incredible level of consumer interest and support for this product.”

Though that “for this year” part of the statement makes it sound as if the NES Classic Edition could mount a comeback at some point, the representative went on to explain that the “NES Classic Edition wasn’t intended to be an ongoing, long-term product. However, due to high demand, we did add extra shipments to our original plans.”

If you’re still desperate to get your hands on one, eBay may be your best option—though you’ll likely end up spending about $150 to $250 for the privilege. For a similar-but-not-quite-Nintendo system, you could opt for an alternative like the RetroEngine Sigma.