Game-Changing Moves: Nintendo's Amiibo Revolution Sets the Stage for Exciting Times Ahead

Highlights

Nintendo's amiibo line has made a change to its packaging, removing mention of the Switch console on reprints of Super Smash Bros.-themed amiibo.

Speculation about a potential successor console has arisen, leading Nintendo to revamp the packaging of its amiibo line. This move aims to future-proof the amiibo products, preventing them from appearing outdated once a new amiibo-compatible console is introduced. However, it is important for fans to note that this packaging update may not hold any substantial significance.

Nintendo's amiibo line has recently made a change to its packaging. The reprints of the Super Smash Bros.-themed amiibo no longer mention the Switch console on the box. This alteration in the packaging details could suggest that Nintendo has something new in the works, or it could simply be an insignificant change.

Since their introduction in 2014, amiibo figures have been collectible items produced by Nintendo. They were first released alongside the fourth installment of the Super Smash Bros. series. These figures were compatible with the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U consoles, allowing players to enjoy various benefits by scanning them in different games. The introduction of the Switch also included this feature, and the latest game in the series, Ultimate, introduced new fighters with their own amiibo figures. Alongside these reprints, it seems that the box art has been modified to remove some older branding.

Pictures of the latest restock of Super Smash Bros. amiibo were initially shared by Ajimi, a retail worker in France and user on the Famiboards forum. These "new" Smash amiibo are mostly the same as before, but with a notable change to the packaging. The new boxes have a more neutral design and do not reference any specific game or console. This has sparked speculation that Nintendo may be preparing for the release of their next console, which could potentially be compatible with amiibo figures. In order to provide a comparison, two images of the amiibo boxes were provided, with the left displaying the reprint and the right showing the old packaging. The reprint box simply states "use amiibo with compatible software," while the right box features Kirby and showcases its compatibility with the Switch, 3DS, and Wii U, including a screenshot from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. A Reddit user mentioned that there are also amiibo reprints with the "generic" packaging being released in other regions such as Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Nintendo's new packaging has sparked speculation that it aims to "future-proof" the amiibo line. In recent years, Nintendo has phased out support and services for the Wii U and 3DS due to their aging hardware, preferring to focus on the highly successful Switch. It is possible that the updated packaging is a strategy to ensure that when the Switch eventually becomes outdated and a new console compatible with amiibo is released, the packaging will still appear contemporary. However, this remains speculative for now.