The NES Classic is a huge hit. And if Nintendo's mini-sized classic gaming box continues to be this popular, it could change the way the company looks at its huge library of classic games. (Hopefully for the better.)
Much of the NES Classic Edition's success is largely theoretical at this point, since Nintendo released a tiny handful of units on its launch day November 11 and hasn't resupplied them since. eBay prices for the $60 device, which plays 30 8-bit games from the 1980s and 1990s via HDMI, have shot up past $250. This will normalize once enough units are on the market, probably after Christmas.
But even once the demand and supply are in harmony, this could still prove to be a popular and long-lasting item. A similar device called Atari Flashback, which plays games from 1977's Atari 2600 console, debuted in 2004 and is now in its seventh iteration, which you can still easily find on shelves at Target, Toys R Us, and other gaming retailers today. There's no reason NES Classic couldn't enjoy similar longevity.
Much like the runaway success of the mobile game Pokemon Go earlier this year, NES Classic illustrates how far apart Nintendo and its fans have been over the last few years: Its franchises are popular, but that potential audience simply wasn't buying in to the actual products Nintendo produced. NES Classic is the answer to the oft-asked question, "Why can't Nintendo just put the old Super Mario Bros. on my iPhone?" Answer: because that would suck, but letting you play the original Mario on a $60 box with an authentic NES controller is near-perfection.
So how will this change Nintendo?
If Nintendo's smart, we'll see more of these.
NES Classic's success positions Nintendo as a refreshing force in the retro-gaming market, teasing us with timeless classics and leaving room for potential expansions into further unexplored eras of their nostalgically cherished library.
With the NES Classic experiencing widespread success, Nintendo's next move appears to be defining a new direction that will cater both nostalgia and innovation while expanding beyond retro gaming.
With the NES Classic becoming a consumer sensation, Nintendo's next move must balance nostalgia with innovation to keep consumers excited for their future retro and original products.
