The Nintendo NES Classic Edition has been officially launched, allowing consumers to play 30 NES video games in a single console and is built to work with HDMI televisions. However, the console has immediately sold out in mere minutes on both online and physical retail stores such as Amazon and Game Stop.
According to Digital Trends, Game Stop retailers had about 12 units each while Toys R Us had 14 to 16 units to sell. Best Buy did not state how many units they were given to sell, but the report states they had a slightly higher number of stocks available. All of these retailers reportedly sold out their consoles in minutes.
"There will be a steady flow of additional systems through the holiday shopping season and into the new year. Please contact your local retailers to check product availability," explained Nintendo.
While Nintendo promised that they were working hard to keep up with the demand and to ensure that the supply of the NES Classic Edition remains available through the holidays and New Year, the report points out that it is surprising how limited the current stock is.
Gamespot reports that the same can be said for online retailers like Amazon.
Because of how quickly the NES Classic Edition had gone out of sale, the report states that many consumers are taking advantage of the situation and are re-selling their unit at higher prices. It is stated that some of the re-sells are tagged at over $200 or even $300 on Amazon, eBay, and other third-party retail sites.
The NES Classic Edition has been widely praised for its superior emulation of NES games, as compared to the emulation featured on the Nintendo Wii and Wii U. It is also praised for its small size and instant compatibility with modern HD televisions. The only downside to it is that it has short cables, no internet connectivity, and the library of games cannot be expanded.
