In a rare move that caught retailers off guard, Nintendo's Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle remains $50 off at $449.99 across major chains, defying expectations that Cyber Monday pricing would vanish. The deal effectively bundles a free $79.99 game with the console, offering relief as tariff-driven price hikes hit competing systems from Microsoft and Sony.
The gaming industry just witnessed something unusual - a major console deal that refuses to die. Nintendo's Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle is holding steady at $449.99 across three major retailers, two days after Cyber Monday officially ended. This breaks the typical pattern where holiday discounts evaporate faster than morning dew.
Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy are all maintaining the $50 discount, though Walmart and Best Buy require shoppers to add the bundle to their cart before revealing the reduced price. It's a sign these retailers are treating the Switch 2 as a high-demand item worth protecting from price scrapers and bots.
The math here is compelling for consumers. Mario Kart World typically retails for $79.99 as a standalone digital download, meaning buyers essentially get the game free with their console purchase. That's significant value in an environment where game prices have steadily climbed and console bundles rarely offer meaningful savings this early in a system's lifecycle.
But there's a bigger story playing out in the background. Recent tariff-induced price hikes have pushed competing consoles higher - the original Switch, Microsoft's Xbox Series X, and Sony's PlayStation 5 have all seen price increases in recent months. Against this backdrop, Nintendo's willingness to maintain aggressive bundle pricing suggests confidence in the Switch 2's market position.
The Switch 2 represents a meaningful upgrade over its predecessor, sporting a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen that dwarfs the original's 6.2-inch display. The magnetic Joy-Con controllers address long-standing drift issues, while improved performance enables more demanding games. Backward compatibility with most original Switch games sweetens the deal for existing Nintendo fans.
Nintendo's game library momentum is accelerating too. Recent releases like Donkey Kong Bananza and Kirby Air Riders have kept the exclusive content flowing, while the just-launched Metroid Prime 4: Beyond demonstrates the system's graphical capabilities. This growing software ecosystem gives retailers confidence that Switch 2 demand will sustain beyond the initial launch window.
