【2005 Archives】

Some things just get better with age.

005 ArchivesNintendo Entertainment Systemis one of those things. Nearly 35 years since its first release in 1985, the NES is still one of the most popular video game consoles on the market — or, well, the re-released miniature version is.

It makes sense. After all, the original Nintendo Entertainment System introduced '80s kids to gaming with a range of now-classic games. Even multiple years down the line, fans still build emulators and attempt to port the games — in what are sometimes not-so-legal methods.

Nintendo answered the call of nostalgia in 2016 with the highly limited NES Classic Edition. It's a palm-sized version of the original console that doesn't have an actual cartridge slot, and instead came pre-loaded with 30 classic NES games including Donkey KongandBalloon Fight. Demand was gigantic: So much so, the console was re-released in June of 2018 and beat out the PS4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch for units sold.

According to the NPD Group, a market research company that tracks the video game industry, the NES Classic Edition was the highest unit-selling hardware platform for June. The $59 price point likely helped the NES Classic Edition take the most sold slot, but the PS4 beat it out for revenue.

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There's just one big problem: There aren't enough units to fulfill demand. Back in 2016 the consoles sold out instantly from online stores, and long lines at bricks and mortar locations resulted in disappointed fans. For the re-release this past month, most online stores have sold out (GameStop and BestBuy still have some); there's a chance a few units remain retail locations. There are still some on eBay, but those come with a higher price tag. (In 2016 some were going for upwards of $200; for now the consoles have leveled off around $100. Once they're totally sold out, expect that price to rise again.)

Given the sales success, seems like there's a good opportunity for Nintendo to re-release the NES Classic Edition yet again — or at least another classic console? For nostalgia's sake.