Summary
Nintendo’samiiboline recently made a change to its packaging that supposedly removed the mention of the Switch console on box when it comes to the reprints of theSuper Smash Bros.-themed amiibo. The removal of the Switch console from the packaging details could mean something might be in the works at Nintendo, or it could mean nothing all that significant.
Amiibo are a set of collectible figures from Nintendo that were first produced in 2014, introduced with the release ofthe fourth game in theSuper Smash Bros.series. The Nintendo 3DS and Wii U both had compatibility with these figures, where scanning them allowed players to earn a variety of benefits depending on the game. The Switch would do the same, withUltimateintroducing new fighters that received their own amiibo figures. With these reprints making it into stores, it appears the box art has also been altered to remove some of the older branding.
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Pictures of the latestSuper Smash Bros.amiibo restockwere first posted by a Famiboards forum user Ajimi. Ajimi is a retail worker in France who received the “new"Smashamiibo, which are mostly the same as before, but with a big change to the packaging. The new amiibo boxes are more “neutral” and make no mention of a specific game or console. This has led some to speculate that this is a sign Nintendo is preparing for the Switch successor console, which could potentially be compatible with amiibo figures as well.
For comparison’s sake, they provided two different pictures of theamiiboboxes, with the left showing the reprint and the right showing the old packaging. The reprint makes no mention of the Switch, where it just says “use amiibo with compatible software” while the right shows Kirby and how it can be used with the Switch, 3DS and Wii U, along with a screenshot ofSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U. A Reddit user reported that other regions like Europe, Australia, and New Zealand are getting amiibo reprints that also feature the “generic” amiibo boxes.
There has been speculation that Nintendo’s updated packaging has been done to “future-proof” the amiibo line.Nintendo has deprecated the Wii U and 3DS' support and servicesover the last few years, due to the aging hardware and the Switch’s runaway success. This updated packaging could be so that when the Switch eventually sunsets and anamiibocompatible successor console is introduced, it won’t look dated in comparison. But that’s just speculation at this time.
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