Nintendo has revealed a Wii U Special Edition Splatoon Deluxe Set, coming exclusively to Best Buy.
For $ 299.99, you will get a Wii U Deluxe console, a preinstalled copy of Nintendo Land, and a download code for Splatoon. The bundle will be available on May 29. The last Wii U bundle that Nintendo offered was for Mario Kart 8, which released almost the same date last year, on May 30 2014.
Nintendo had more iterations of that bundle, including an incredible special edition with multiple accessories, an extra Wii Mote controller, and a Prima guide. It would not be out of the question for Nintendo to be planning similar premium bundles for Splatoon, to be announced closer to release. With amiibo now entering the picture, Nintendo has a huge opportunity to literally use their new toy product line to sell their hardware.
EAD head Katsuya Eguchi has gone on record before that Nintendo has high hopes for the franchise, and with this bundle and the summer release, we know that they mean it. Nintendo’s marketing for Splatoon also resembles that of Mario Kart 8, with a countrywide tour planned with Gametruck all throughout the rest of the summer. Gametruck will actually be bringing the game around the country to demo, from June to August.
Do you think Splatoon will be Nintendo’s next big IP, or is Nintendo making the wrong bet here? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.