Elusive McDonald’s-branded Nintendo DSi quickly pulled from second-hand store in Japan

A mysterious McDonald’s-branded Nintendo DSi and software cartridge recently surfaced and quickly disappeared from a second-hand hardware store’s listing. These are thought to be the specialized console and software once used for training staff in Japan’s McDonald’s stores. McDonald’s has even given a statement on the topic, expressing their disappointment with the situation (Source: J-CAST). 

On March 18, Japanese thrift store chain Hard-Off made a (now deleted) X post showing off a new rare set of items they had come by – a McDonald’s Nintendo DSi and a game cartridge of “eCrew Development Program,” a game that teaches players (staff) how to prepare burgers, fries and other McDonald’s menu items. Both of these items have never been sold commercially and were developed solely for internal use by McDonald’s Japan. Their mysterious nature contributed to Hard-Off’s post quickly blowing up, with users inquiring about how they ended up on the second-hand market and whether McDonald’s was aware of the fact. 

In response, the advertisement was deleted and followed by an apology. On the other hand, McDonald’s Japan’s public relations sector commented on March 27 that, although they cannot be sure that the items are genuine based only on photographs, they feel it is “extremely regrettable” that they would end up being resold. According to the same statement, McDonald’s Japan’s use of Nintendo hardware for employee training lasted until 2018, when they switched to tablet-type training hardware.