SNES Classic Edition Buyer's Guide: GameStop, ThinkGeek Announce New Stock
Here's the latest on how, where, and when to buy Nintendo's new micro console.
October 10: GameStop and ThinkGeek are both receiving more SNES Classic Editions. They'll be sold individually in stores beginning today, while bundles and standalone units will go on sale online on October 11. Specifics regarding the bundles were not shared, and it may take a day or two for retail stores to actually begin selling their micro consoles.
October 5: The SNES Classic Edition sold out at release as expected, and prices were high on Ebay, but Nintendo has insisted the system will be easier to get than the NES Classic. Your next opportunity to get one is now here, as GameStop has the micro console in stock on its website right now. As always, there's no telling how long it will last, so act fast if you're interested. [Update: It looks to now be out stock, but it may be worth refreshing the page today just in case.] We'll report back as the system comes back in stock at GameStop and elsewhere. In the meantime, check out our SNES Classic review.
September 28: The SNES Classic Edition's release is finally upon us. Fortunately, it looks as if you'll have an opportunity to purchase one on launch day (September 29) even if you weren't able to secure a pre-order. Nintendo has urged fans not to pay more than retail price and announced plans to extend availability into 2018 (it was originally only supposed to ship during 2017). But even on launch day, at least some stores will have them in stock.
Already, we've heard that GameStop and its subsidiary ThinkGeek will have SNES Classic Editions for sale. Best Buy will also have them--albeit only in its physical stores--and Toys R Us will, too. Although they haven't announced specific plans, you can count on Walmart and Target having them as well. Wherever you choose to try picking one up, just be aware that you may need to show up early. Best Buy recommended as much and said it will distribute tickets to those in line if necessary. While your odds of eventually getting one seem good, NES Classic Edition's supply issues may drive up demand for the new system in the short-term.
If you're wondering if it's even worth all the fuss, check out our SNES Classic Edition review. For even more information, head over to our guide to the SNES Classic Edition.
September 12: While pre-orders themselves may not be any easier to get, Nintendo has provided some encouraging news for those hoping to purchase an SNES Classic Edition. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime recently implored people not to pay more than regular price for the console. Now, the company has announced that the SNES Classic will continue to be sold into 2018, and not just in 2017 as previously planned. (The NES Classic is also coming back.) On launch day in the US specifically, Nintendo said that "more units of Super NES Classic Edition will ship ... than were shipped of NES Classic Edition all last year, with subsequent shipments arriving in stores regularly." This is still no guarantee that you'll easily get one, but things are looking better now than they did.
August 31: Walmart has begun contacting certain customers to notify them of canceled SNES Classic pre-orders. Based on reports from NeoGAF and Reddit, this only appears to affect those who ordered more than one unit, and it seems only the additional orders have been canceled. (We at GameSpot have also received such a cancelation notice, reducing an order for two units down to one.) There's no official word on this yet, but it's possible this move could free up additional units for pre-order.
August 25 update 2: The SNES Classic Edition is back in stock at Walmart right now. It likely won't last long, so be sure to jump on it quickly if you're interested. This may be one of the last opportunities to pre-order the system prior to its launch in late September.
August 25: A number of Amazon pre-order customers have been notified that they may not receive their order on time. It's unclear how long the hold-up will last or what the problem is, but affected users have been sent an email notifying them of the potential delay. The retailer states that everyone who pre-ordered the system will eventually get their hands on one.
August 23: GameStop is officially sold out of SNES Classic Editions online, and it appears to be gone at most (if not all) of its physical stores, too. The retailer has said it will have more SNES Classics available for walk-ins at its stores on launch day, although it's unclear how easy it will be to get one. Meanwhile, SNES Classic prices have skyrocketed on Ebay. Some people had success ordering systems from Target after it looked as if they were all gone, so it's not inconceivable that routinely checking out the US retailer links below will be fruitful. We'll continue to update this story as more pre-order opportunities become available, but there's no guarantee that there will be many more chances to buy one in advance of launch--at least at retail price.
- Amazon -- sold out
- Best Buy -- sold out
- B&H Photo Video -- currently unavailable
- GameStop -- sold out
- Play Asia -- currently unavailable
- Target -- sold out
- ThinkGeek -- sold out
- Toys R Us -- not offering pre-orders
August 22 update 6: Toys R Us has announced on Twitter that it will not offer pre-orders. Instead, it will be available in stores beginning on launch day, September 29. This comes as a surprise, as Toys R Us was among the retailers that Nintendo listed on its official website as offering pre-orders.
August 22 update 5: Amazingly, the expensive bundles at ThinkGeek have sold out. GameStop's website returned online this afternoon with the SNES Classic and bundles available, but heavy traffic brought it offline. As was the case earlier, it's again redirecting visitors to ThinkGeek.
August 22 update 4: Just as GameStop is offering some pricey bundles in stores, its subsidiary, ThinkGeek, is now selling the system online. Its website offers seven different bundles, ranging from $140 to a whopping $330.
August 22 update 3: Walmart and Target pre-orders are indeed gone, at least for now. GameStop's website has been taken offline, but it's taking pre-orders in its physical stores. There's still no word on Toys R Us pre-orders.
August 22 update 2: Walmart pre-orders have gone live and seemingly sold out almost right away. Target pre-orders are live but the site seems to be having trouble, and it may also be gone. Likewise, GameStop's website is slow to load, but you might be able to get an order in. Separately, GameStop announced on Twitter that it's offering in-store pre-orders right now.
August 22 update: Amazon and Best Buy both briefly offered SNES Classic units in the very early US morning hours today. It came in and out of stock at Best Buy for a period of time, but for now, it appears both retailers are sold out. That said, it looks as if more stores will soon launch SNES Classic pre-orders.
Those in Canada will soon be able to pre-order a SNES Classic from Best Buy. The store has announced that pre-orders go live at approximately 10 AM PT today, so you'll want to start mashing F5 on its website around then. It will not be available in Quebec.
August 17 update: The previously available Walmart pre-orders were ultimately canceled in the US. Nintendo has since revealed that SNES Classic pre-orders should arrive in the US by the end of August. We don't yet know when they will go up for sale exactly, but you can check out the store listings at some major retailers through the links below. With the end of the month fast approaching, we should have more details soon.
July 21 update: For the first time, the SNES Classic has come up for pre-order in the United States. It's unclear how long it will last for, but Walmart is offering the system here.
Update: Those in the UK may have missed at least their first chance to pre-order from certain retailers, but Nintendo's online store has the SNES Classic available as of this writing.
Original Story: Nintendo announced the SNES Classic today. A miniature version of the classic Nintendo console, the $80 system that comes with 21 games and two controllers launches in the US in September. Given that last year's NES Classic sold out basically instantly everywhere it was sold, fans might be wondering how they can secure the SNES Classic right away.
US retailers are not yet widely accepting pre-orders, but in Australia, you can secure a pre-order right now through JB Hi Fi and EB Games. The console sells for $120 in Australia and it looks a little different than the North American edition.
UK retailer Game announced today that pre-orders were available for the SNES Classic, but at press time it appears that the allocated units have been sold through.
In the US, Amazon has a page up for the SNES Classic, as does Best Buy, but you cannot actually pre-order the system there as of yet. We will update this post as more retailers open pre-orders for the SNES Classic. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.
The Super NES Classic Edition features a total of 21 games, including some huge names--EarthBound, Donkey Kong Country, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Super Mario World are among those included. But most notable of all is the inclusion of a game--Star Fox 2--that was famously never released. Here's the complete list:
- Contra III: The Alien Wars
- Donkey Kong Country
- EarthBound
- Final Fantasy III
- F-Zero
- Kirby Super Star
- Kirby's Dream Course
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Mega Man X
- Secret of Mana
- Star Fox
- Star Fox 2
- Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting
- Super Castlevania IV
- Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts
- Super Mario Kart
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
- Super Mario World
- Super Metroid
- Super Punch-Out
- Yoshi's Island
As with the NES Classic Edition, the SNES Classic features HDMI output and resembles the look of the system it's based on but in a smaller form factor. But unlike that system, it comes with two controllers in the box.
On the subject of supply, while Nintendo isn't sharing specific numbers, it did say it will deliver "significantly more" units than it did with the NES Classic Edition. That said, it only plans to ship the system between September and the end of 2017.
In Japan, Nintendo is selling the console as the Super Famicom Classic--and its game lineup is not the same as in the rest of the world.
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