SNES prototype attracts auction bids over ¥1.5M. Why do people want it so badly? 

An apparent prototype of Nintendo’s Super Famicom that was posted on Yahoo Japan Auctions two days ago has already received bids in excess of 1.5 million yen (approx. $9700 USD). But what makes this rare model so sought after?  

Update (May 9, 2024): The prototype console reached 14,668,000yen around 11:30pm on May 8, however all bids were deleted around midnight. Although the auction was relisted with a 1,500,001yen starting price, it was ultimately cancelled around 6am. The reason is not known.

The Super Famicom was first released in Japan in 1990, and was renamed to SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System) for the overseas market. The European SNES’s light gray and dark gray console with red, blue, yellow and green buttons on the controller is very similar to the Japanese console’s design, whereas North American models had a light gray with purple color scheme. However, the prototype Japanese console in the auction is different to any of these commercial variations. 

Super Famicom enthusiasts quickly took to social media to marvel at the listing. Both the auction poster and social media commenters explained what features set it apart and make it a covetable piece of gaming history. 

The auction post references an old magazine article from Famitsu Express, which gave readers back then a glimpse of the new Nintendo console’s capabilities. Pictured in the article is a Super Famicom that closely resembles the prototype in the auction listing.  

On the back of the prototype is a sticker stating in red that is a “Sample for Development Use”- suggesting that it was most likely used by programmers making games for Nintendo’s upcoming system. The sticker also tells us its serial number (8) and that it belonged to someone working in Nintendo’s Entertainment Analysis & Development (EAD) division (the employee’s name is blurred out for privacy reasons). It is not known how many of these prototypes were made, but its rarity and in-house only status, not to mention the distinct design differences, have incited much interest.  

The listing was posted on the evening of May 5 with a starting price of 5000 yen, however bids have been flying in over the past few days and over 999 people have the listing saved to their watchlist. At the time of writing, there have been over 200 bids on the console, and it is currently at an impressive 1,505,000 yen. There are still 5 days to go until the auction ends on May 12, so it’s likely that this figure will rise. 

However, some companies have previously stepped in to block sales of consoles that were only intended for in-house use- such as a McDonald’s branded DSi that was used for employee training in Japan. Some commenters on X have been wondering whether Nintendo will take action over this Super Famicom prototype.