Nintendo SNES Classic Edition Reportedly In The Works, Releasing Near Christmas This Year

After the discontinuation of the NES Classic Edition, Nintendo is now reportedly working on a mini version of its SNES console. The Nintendo SNES Classic, as it's likely to be called, is rumored to launch "in time for Christmas this year." 

Nintendo really broke the hearts of many retro gaming fans last week when the company suddenly announced NES Classic Edition's discontinuation. It came as quite a shock because not only was the NES Classic Edition extremely popular, it was in extraordinarily short supply constantly since the device was launched late 2016.

Many people who wanted the NES Classic Edition were unable to find it, unless they wanted to pay huge markup prices to third-party sellers. However, a new report from Eurogamer claims that discontinuing the NES Classic Edition was done with the intention of replacing it. Nintendo is said to be working on a SNES Classic Edition.

According to Extreme Tech, SNES Classic Edition is still entirely unofficial, so Nintendo isn't talking. The report of this new console is based on sources who have spoken to Eurogamer, but they say the SNES Classic Edition (if that's what Nintendo calls it) is already being designed and will make the debut sometime near Christmas this year.

If the capabilities of the NES Classic Edition are anything to go on, then Nintendo should not need to do much to redesign it as a SNES. With a few simple mods, gamers had the NES Classic Edition running titles from the SNES, Genesis, and even N64.

According to Game Spot, a SNES Classic Edition could take a similar form to its miniature predecessor, with a number of fan-favorite games included on a small plug-and-play device. Highly praised games for the original SNES include "Super Mario World," "Chrono Trigger," "Super Metroid," "Super Mario Kart," "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past" and more.

Nintendo's wish to launch the SNES Classic Edition may be the real reason behind discontinuing the NES Classic Edition. At the time, Nintendo has simply said it never intended the revived NES to be a long-term product. It just kept making them for a few extra months because of high demand. Eurogamer also suggests that the SNES Classic Edition became the focus instead of continuing to sell the NES Classic Edition.