Gold Edition Mario Amiibo Release Date Revealed

Nintendo has quelled rumors via an official press release to officially announce the release of a Super Mario amiibo – Gold Edition on March 20, 2015. The first Gold Edition amiibo will be available exclusively at 3,000 Walmart stores and Walmart.com with a suggested retail price of $12.96.

The Gold Edition Super Mario amiibo is the third figure to feature Nintendo’s mascot character in the amiibo lineup and the second Mario amiibo that may be hard to find. Part of the Super Smash Bros. amiibo series, the “fireball” Mario is fairly easy to come by in retail stores and online. It is not a store exclusive or limited edition. The “wave” Mario comes in a standard edition with a classic paint job, in addition to the newly announced Gold Edition; however, it is also part of a limited, exclusive release. The classic paint “wave” Mario is included in a special edition Mario Party 10 amiibo bundle that will also hit store shelves on March 20. As of today some retailers, like amazon.com, have sold out of pre-orders for this bundle while other stores like GameStop and Best Buy still have the bundle available.Pre-orders at Walmart.com for the Gold Edition Mario sold out within minutes of becoming available, despite Walmart’s attempts to limit the product to two per household. Lucky customers with successful pre-orders are already scalping their figures pre-launch at enormous markups on secondary market sites like eBay. One seller has already sold 100 and counting Gold Edition Mario amiibo on eBay at a “Buy It Now” price of $82.50 USD.

For those holding out and hoping for a golden opportunity to snag this amiibo at the retail price, Walmart.com does offer email alerts through a “Get in-stock alert” option available on the product page. On launch day, prior to store opening, collectors can also check which store locations in their area might have the Gold Edition Mario amiibo in-stock using the website’s in-store pickup search feature. However, be forewarned that sometimes these inventory numbers may be incorrect or include items on hold for customers who pre-ordered. If you do not see the amiibo on the shelf, do not immediately dismay. Some Walmart locations are keeping their amiibo in the electronics stock room to reduce theft and limit amiibo sales per customer.

It might not be a bad idea to try pre-ordering in-store at your local Walmart using product number 553729112. As with any hot-selling, hard-to-find product, your results may vary.

Those fortunate enough to get their hands on the gold-colored Mario amiibo will be able to use it on a number of compatible games, including Super Smash Bros. Wii U, Mario Party 10, Mario Kart 8, Hyrule Warriors and Super Smash Bros. 3DS.