Nintendo's Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Switch bundle is now available for pre-order

The Switch is Nintendo's latest console and has been around longer than all of its predecessors. Its seventh anniversary is just six months away. While it seems highly likely that we will have official information about the upcoming device by that time, Nintendo is very interested in making the last holiday season with the Switch at the forefront truly count. This will be achieved not only through a series of new games that will spectacularly conclude the Switch era, but also through some limited special editions and console bundles.

One of the bundles showcased by Nintendo this week includes a Switch console that comes with a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and three months of Nintendo Switch Online. With NSO, you can not only compete against players from around the world but also gain access to the service's growing libraries of NES, SNES, and Game Boy games. However, if you want access to the Mario Kart DLC tracks as well as the N64 and Sega Genesis libraries, you will need to pay for the Expansion Pack separately.

It may seem a bit strange to bundle a regular Switch with a five-year-old game. Why not include something newer like "Tears of the Kingdom" or "Pikmin 4"? Well, while both games were successful, nothing on the Switch comes close to the success of Nintendo's latest Mario Kart game. With 55 million copies sold, it's not only the best-selling Switch game by far, but it also ranks among the best-selling games of all time.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Nintendo Switch Bundle

This Nintendo Switch bundle includes the base console, a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and three months of Nintendo Switch Online.

The console is priced at $300, which is a pretty good deal considering what you get. Nintendo games that sell well are rarely discounted, so the game alone costs $60, and three months of NSO cost $7.99. Even a Switch without a game or NSO subscription costs only slightly less, so there are definitely savings to be had with this bundle.

You might also wonder why this bundle doesn't include the OLED Switch instead of the base model. It's likely aimed specifically at those who don't yet own a Switch and are more casual gamers or even non-gamers. Anyone actively looking to own a Switch probably already has one and a copy of Mario Kart as well. This bundle is an attempt to attract as many people as possible to the Switch before Nintendo moves forward officially. If you're among them, though pre-orders are now available, the bundle will only be shipped starting from October 6th.

If you're in the market for a Switch but the above-mentioned bundle doesn't appeal to you, Nintendo also unveiled two new Switch Lite models this week. Both come with a digital copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and you can choose either the turquoise Timmy and Tommy Edition or the coral pink Isabelle Edition.