Despite being released more than a year ago – and being a remastered version of an even older game – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has remained one of the Switch's best selling titles through 2018. Despite a price that hasn't really dropped at all, years of goodwill built up by one of the world's most beloved gaming franchises has paid dividends.
The love for Mario Kart hasn't been lost on Nintendo, either. On December 3rd, they're launching a new Mario Kart 8 Switch bundle. While it may seem a bit unusual to launch a bundle almost a year and a half after the game was originally released, the enduring popularity means it's a savvy move.
In terms of the bundle itself, it's fairly straightforward. The Switch included comes with the neon red/blue Joy-Cons (there's no sign of a grey alternative) and a digital code with which you can redeem a copy of the game. Unlike recent Switch packages, such as the Super Smash Bros Ultimate or Diablo 3 bundles, there's no special decals or carry cases included.
So, you may be asking, if there's nothing special about the console and the game's been out for over a year, what benefits does this bundle have?
One word: price. We expect the bundle will retail with an RRP of £299.99, or £20 more than the Switch on its own. As many of you out there buying a Switch for Christmas will likely be looking at Mario Kart to deliver some family fun over the holidays, the bundle offers some decent savings. The cheapest price we've found for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe currently is £41, so you'll be saving more than £20 on the game. Not too shabby!
We expect the bundle will launch on December 3rd, based on listings on Amazon.