Thank you Turkey. Football. pumpkin pie Mariah Carey's “All I Want for Christmas” on each speaker. Keeping Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Switch bundles on sale for Black Friday. All of these have been beloved holiday traditions — but this year, one of these traditions is ending, perhaps for good. Nintendo's Black Friday sale has officially begun, running from November 23rd to November 29th, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe And the Switch console bundle is nowhere to be seen.
The Mario Kart 8 bundle was standard throughout the Switch's lifetime
For seven years without fail, Nintendo has offered a bundle of Nintendo Switch consoles and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game as part of its Black Friday deal. The bundle first appeared in 2018 and reappears every year, always costing $299.99. Sure, sometimes it sold out, as games and consoles inevitably do on Black Friday, but it was always there.
Now, this year, there is no bundle. Nintendo's offers include heavy discounts on titles Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Luigi's Mansion 3, As well as many third-party offers like Sonic Racing: Crossworlds and Final Fantasy 1-6 Pixel Collection. Amiibos are also on sale, buyers are able to grab The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Sage amiibos for just $9.99 each. But there are no console deals. No one expected a deal on the new Nintendo Switch 2 console, but the lack of one for the Switch 1, as has been the case every year, is surprising.
The lack of console deals isn't unexpected, but it's disappointing
With the Switch 2 so new, Nintendo fans weren't expecting to see a discounted version hitting virtual shelves on Black Friday. We're less than a year into the console's lifespan, and sales are still high, so it's too early for Nintendo to drop the price. But the original Nintendo Switch is still actively for sale everywhere, and there are probably some gamers who would still be happy to see the old console wrapped under the Christmas tree. Discontinuing the bundle seems like an odd move – especially since Nintendo wasn't yet ready to replace it with a Switch 2 equivalent, such as a discounted version. Mario Kart World Console bundle.
Switch 2 is a major factor, but it's not the only one
The release of the Switch 2 may not be the only reason Nintendo discontinues the popular Black Friday bundle in 2025. Recently, the Nintendo Switch console saw a price hike, with the standard Switch now retailing for $339.99 USD and the OLED model for $399.99. While Nintendo cited vague “market conditions” regarding the changes in its official announcement, increased tariffs in the United States are likely a major contributing factor to the change.
With the Nintendo Switch now selling for over $300 USD, this offering and Mario Kart 8 For $299.99 on Black Friday might not be a good decision financially for Nintendo. The decision to ditch the bundle entirely instead of offering a slightly more expensive version is odd, but that may be because its seven-year legacy means that price increases will be viewed particularly negatively.. It's also interesting to note that there are no deals on the recently released Switch 2 exclusive games, and few on physical accessories or console peripherals, which isn't unexpected. Reports indicate that Switch 2 microSD cards will be discounted during the Cyber Monday period starting on November 30.
Currently, Nintendo's available Black Friday deals are listed on the official Nintendo Store website. More is coming on Nov. 30 for Cyber Monday, but a discount on the Switch or Switch 2 seems highly unlikely. It looks like 2025 is indeed the end of an era – perhaps a new discounted Switch 2 bundle will debut on Black Friday 2026 to replace it?
