Thanksgiving turkey. Football. Pumpkin pie. “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey on every speaker. Nintendo launch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Switch Black Friday Sale Bundle. They've all become beloved holiday traditions — but this year, one of those traditions ended, possibly for good. The Nintendo Black Friday sales officially started from November 23rd to November 29th. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and the Switch console bundle is nowhere to be seen.
The Mario Kart 8 pack has been standard throughout the life of the Switch
Nintendo has been offering the Nintendo Switch console bundle for seven years without issue and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game as part of the Black Friday offer. The bundle first appeared in 2018 and has reappeared every year, always costing $299.99. Sure, it sometimes sold out, as games and consoles inevitably do on Black Friday, but it was always there.
Now, this year, the package is no more. Nintendo's offer includes steep discounts on titles such as Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Luigi's Mansion 3, as well as several third-party offerings such as Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and Final Fantasy 1-6 Pixel Collection. Amiibos are also on sale for buyers to grab The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's Sage amiibos for just $9.99 each. But there are no console offers. No one really expected a deal for the new Nintendo Switch 2 console, but not having one for the Switch 1, as happened every year, is surprising.
The lack of console offerings isn't unexpected, but it's disappointing
With the Switch 2 being so new, Nintendo fans weren't expecting to see a discounted version on virtual shelves on Black Friday. With less than a year left in the console's lifespan and sales still strong, it's too early for Nintendo to drop the price. But the original Nintendo Switch is still actively sold almost everywhere, and there are probably more than a few gamers who would still like to see the older console wrapped under the Christmas tree. Canceling the bundle seems like an odd move – especially since Nintendo wasn't ready to replace it with a Switch 2 equivalent like a discounted version just yet Mario Kart World console package.
The Switch 2 is a major factor, but not the only one
The release of the Switch 2 may not be the only reason why Nintendo is ending the popular Black Friday bundle in 2025. Recently, Nintendo Switch consoles have seen a price increase, with the standard Switch now selling for $339.99 and the OLED model for $399.99. While Nintendo cited vague “market conditions” in its official announcement of the changes, increased tariffs in the United States are likely a major contributing factor to the change.
Now retailing for over $300, the Nintendo Switch delivers and Mario Kart 8 at $299.99 on Black Friday, it probably wouldn't be a financially sound decision for Nintendo. The decision to remove the package entirely instead of offering a slightly more expensive version is a strange one, but that may be because its seven-year legacy would lead to price increases being viewed particularly negatively.. It's also interesting to note that there are no deals on newly released Switch 2 exclusive games and very few on physical accessories or console peripherals, which isn't unexpected. Reports suggest that Switch 2 microSD cards will be discounted during the Cyber Monday period, which begins on November 30.
Currently available Nintendo Black Friday deals are listed on the official Nintendo Store website. More will come on November 30 on Cyber Monday, but a Switch or Switch 2 discount seems highly unlikely. 2025 really does seem to be the end of an era – perhaps a new discounted Switch 2 bundle will debut on Black Friday 2026 to replace it?
