Three classic Super Mario games coming to Nintendo Switch

Japanese gaming giant Nintendo is bringing three classic Super Mario video games from its beloved franchise to the hottest game console the Nintendo Switch.

The firm has been looking to capitalize on the momentum for gaming during the coronavirus pandemic ahead of the holidays.

Nintendo announced remastered versions of some of its best-known 3D titles during a presentation to mark the 35th anniversary of the series last week.

The three classic titles that are up for a return are 1996′s Super Mario 64, 2002′s Super Mario Sunshine and 2007′s Super Mario Galaxy. The games will be bundled into a package Nintendo is calling Super Mario 3D All-Stars, and will be released for $59.99 on a “limited” basis from Sept. 18 until March 31, 2021.

Nintendo also debuted a bunch of other games, including a mixed-reality version of Mario Kart called Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit that lets users control physical RC cars from their Switch console, and Super Mario Bros. 35, a Mario-themed take on the battle royale genre popularized by Fortnite.

Another announcement from the firm was a modern version of its original Game & Watch handheld machine from the ’80s.

Mario Kart: Home Circuit will be released on Oct. 16 for $99.99, Nintendo said, while the Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. device launches on Nov. 13 for $49.99.

It’s the classic remakes that are expected to generate the most buzz for Nintendo as the holiday shopping season approaches. The company will be looking to lure in gamers, especially as Microsoft and Sony are expected to launch their respective next-gen Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles.

The move was likely welcome news for fans, who have craved a major announcement from Nintendo for some time, and could help make up for what some industry watchers had feared would be a light gaming pipeline for the firm.

Digital game sales have shot up during the pandemic, accounting for 56% of Nintendo’s total software sales in the fiscal first quarter. Sony meanwhile said they made up a whopping 74% of games sold on its PlayStation 4 console in its latest quarterly results, the highest number on record.

Nintendo reported a 428% climb in profits in its latest financial report, reflecting a continued rise in demand for video games as people looked for an escape during the Covid-19 outbreak. It’s benefited especially from its Animal Crossing: New Horizons title, which blew up in popularity following its March 20 release and is already the second-bestselling title on the Switch.