NES Classic Mini units to be regularly shipped to retail outlets; Nintendo confirms phase out news a hoax

The Nintendo NES Classic Mini gaming console is not being phased out, Nintendo has confirmed. The elusive console is hard to come across, considering its massive popularity and US$60 (AU$80) price tag. The Classic Mini retro console is always out of stock at major retailers and can only be availed at higher price points. Due to its perennial unavailability, reports started surfacing online, stating that Nintendo is phasing out the console. However, Nintendo has refuted all such claims.

“Production for the Nintendo Classic Mini: NES continues, and NOE [Nintendo of Europe] will continue to ship units to retail on a regular basis,” a Nintendo UK representative told Tech Radar.

According to Tech Times, online outlets started reporting that retailers may not even be able to deliver the Nintendo NES Classic Mini existing orders as Nintendo has cut short the production of the retro console. It was even reported that Scandinavian retailer Bergsala has confirmed that it’s the end of the Classic Mini and that it will be phased out soon. Such unconfirmed reports forced Nintendo to respond via an official statement and state that the production of the console is not going to end anytime soon.

Nintendo further confirmed that the NES Classic Mini units will be shipped on a regular basis and all orders will be delivered. It is evident from the statement that Nintendo, along with fans, panicked and the company went into damage-control mode before the situation went out of hand. Nintendo response has provided a sense of relief to thousands of fans who are yet to get their hands on the console. It has been reported that Nintendo is looking to ramp up production of the NES Classic Mini to meet rising demand.

This too is great news for fans as chances of buying the console looks better. During an investor’s call in January, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima, apologised to Nintendo fans for the widespread shortage of supply of the retro gaming console. Kimishima explained that the company took a lot of time procuring certain complex parts of the console, which resulted in late production of the units. The console typically comes preloaded with 30 games and includes popular titles such as “The Legend of Zelda,” “Super Mario Bros” and “Pac-Man.”

The inaccurate reports claiming that the Nintendo NES Classic Mini gaming console is being phased out, show that there are many who are utterly frustrated with the console’s unavailability. Nintendo needs to correct this as soon as possible.