Nintendo unveils a disappointingly simplistic Mario Bros. Wonder OLED Switch

Nintendo has unveiled a limited edition of the Nintendo Switch OLED, scheduled for release on October 5th, prior to the launch of Super Mario Bros. Wonder. However, regrettably, it is disappointingly simplistic in design.

It has been quite some time since we heard anything new about Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but that has just changed, thanks to a special Direct presentation by Nintendo that has provided us with a wealth of new details about the game. Not only have we learned more about the power-ups, enemies, and the new badge mechanism, but we have also received confirmation regarding the rumored Nintendo Switch OLED, which is set to be released prior to the game's launch.

Rumors about the limited edition of the Switch surfaced yesterday from the trusted insider billbil-kun, who reported that it would be released prior to the game and would not be overly elaborate. That turned out to be precisely the case, as Nintendo confirmed and showcased the OLED model towards the end of the Direct presentation, which is set to be released on October 5th.

Despite Super Mario Bros. Wonder featuring a highly distinctive art style that sets it apart from anything we have seen in previous Mario games, the design of the Switch is incredibly simple, primarily consisting of a red OLED. While there are some unique design elements, such as the coins on the back and the slightly darker red Mario symbol in the bottom left corner, it is still surprisingly minimalist.

Simply take a glance at the OLED consoles we've received for Splatoon 3 and Tears of the Kingdom, and you'll be disappointed that Nintendo hasn't gone the extra mile here. Granted, red is a color associated with Mario, but he isn't the sole character in the game, and it's regrettable not to see any unique elements from Wonder or other characters incorporated into the design.

In fact, the OLED Switch seems to be a step backward compared to the regular Mario Switch that was released two years ago. The latter, while not featuring an OLED display, honestly didn't have an exceptionally appealing design with its brightly glowing blue and red patterns, but at least it put in a bit more effort than this one. If you prefer simpler designs and are solely looking for a new OLED device for Wonder, it may not be as significant. However, it is peculiar to see something so basic for such an impressive game.

If you're interested in the OLED Switch, pre-orders for it are currently available at the Nintendo Store. The price is set at $350, and the release is scheduled for October 5th, a few weeks prior to the launch of Wonder.