New Nintendo Switch design has Super Mario fans fuming

When Nintendo announced a brand new Nintendo Switch this week, it was notable for two reasons. Not only does it mark the very first time the classic Switch has appeared in a new colour, but said colour has been selected in honour of everyone's favourite moustachioed Italian plumber. (We're talking about Super Mario, just in case you have another favourite.)

It might sound like the holy grail of Nintendo Switch consoles, but the more fans saw of the new design, the more disappointed they became. It seems the Mario-themed Switch could just as well be a Spider-man-themed Switch. Or a ketchup-themed Switch. Or, basically, an anything red-themed Switch. (Check out these unbeatable Nintendo Switch deals if you're happy to settle for classic grey.) 

According to Nintendo (above), the 'Mario Red & Blue Edition' Switch features a "distinct red-and-blue colour scheme" in honour of the character's famous outfit. It even features a Mario-themed carrying case. Available from 12 February, the console will cost the same $299/£279 as a regular Switch.  

But while you'd think Nintendo fans would be chomping at the bit to get hold of a Switch designed in tribute to the company's most famous character, many feel that the the Mario Switch could be a lot more, well, Mario. Indeed, only the Joy-Con grips have been rendered in blue, with everything else red. This means that in handheld configuration (below), the whole console is, like our favourite 1980s British pop band, simply red. 

And judging by the response on Twitter (below), Nintendo hasn't quite got that red/blue balance right. (Perhaps the company ought to have checked out our guide to colour theory first?) 

Ironically, we think the new Switch looks pretty neat – as long as we forget it's supposed to resemble Super Mario. Until now, only the Switch Lite was available in anything other than grey, and it's refreshing to see the standard Switch in a brand new hue. Like Apple's Product Red iPhones, the new Switch seems like a stylish piece of kit. But does it make us think of Mario? Nope. 

If recent months in the world of gaming have taught us anything, it's that colour matters. The PS5 was mercilessly mocked when initially revealed with its 'reverse Oreo' white-and-black colour scheme. No wonder fans recently went wild for an unofficial black edition – which has already been pulled thanks to impossible demand.

Already got a Switch? Don't miss our round up of the best Nintendo Switch games and Nintendo Switch headsets money can buy. Or if you've yet to get your hands on one of the popular consoles, here are the best prices on the web:

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