Believe it or not, the early signs of the holiday shopping season have already arrived. To that effect, like clockwork, Nintendo has brought back the annual Black Friday bundle it has released each year for what seems like all of human history. However, this time there’s a new edition! You can now purchase a Nintendo Switch: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle for $299.99 (see it at Best Buy), or a version with the Switch OLED for $349.99 (see it at Best Buy). For those keeping track, the OLED bundle is new for Black Friday 2024. Let’s look at the details.Where to Buy the Nintendo Switch: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe BundlesNintendo Switch OLED: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle3Includes Switch OLED console, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (digital), and 12 months Individual Nintendo Switch Online Membership.Nintendo Switch: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle0Includes Switch console, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (digital), and 12 months Individual Nintendo Switch Online Membership.Switch OLED BundleStandard Switch BundleThese bundles offer a $79.98 discount versus buying all of the items individually at regular price. That’s a great deal for anyone in the market for a Switch.What Comes in the Switch Bundles?Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED ModelMario Kart 8 Deluxe (digital code)12-Month Individual Nintendo Switch Online MembershipBuy either of the bundles, and you’ll get a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch OLED console. You’ll also get a digital download code for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which, despite its age (the original version came out on the Wii U in 2014), remains one of the best racing games ever made in my opinion. Finally, you get a 1-year membership to Nintendo Switch Online (that’s better than last year’s bundle, which only had a 3-month subscription). That lets you play a library of classic digital NES, SNES, and Game Boy games, plus lets you play Switch games online, and gives you other bonuses, like cloud saves.What’s the Difference Between the Standard Switch and Switch OLED?The only difference between the bundles is the model of Switch that’s included. If you’re wondering which one to get, the quick and easy advice is this: if you plan to play games in handheld mode often, get the OLED. If not, go with the standard Switch.The OLED model is better in a number of ways, but they’re all related to playing games in handheld mode. At 7 inches, it has a larger display than the standard model’s 6.2 inch screen. The OLED display is noticeably brighter and offers much richer colors than the standard model. It also has true blacks, with no backlight shining through. And the kickstand on the OLED model is much sturdier.What About the Nintendo Switch 2?If you’re hesitant to buy a Switch while rumors of the next Nintendo console swirl, you have good reason to hold off. It’s possible the Switch successor will be backwards compatible, letting you play all of your original Switch games. However, Nintendo has signaled the Switch 2 won’t come out until April 2025 at the earliest.So if you want to play Nintendo games before then, you’ll need a Switch. And these bundles are the best deals you’re likely to find on current-generation hardware.Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN’s board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Threads.
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