When Nintendo announced the SNES Classic Edition earlier this year, the company stated that the console would only be shipped to retailers during 2017 before being discontinued. Shipping the console in this year alone would drastically reduce fans' chances of getting one and so, understandably, many would-be SNES Classic buyers were furious.

But today, Nintendo has offered a ray of hope, confirming that shipments of the SNES Classic Edition will continue into 2018. In a press release, the company explains that it already plans to ship more SNES Classic Editions at launch than it did of the NES Classic Edition all of last year. Nintendo also points to the "incredible demand" for the retro console, adding that "fans have shown their unbridled enthusiasm for these Classic Edition systems, so Nintendo is working to put many more of them on store shelves."

The comments come not long after Nintendo stated that it is 'drastically' increasing SNES Classic Edition production because of that jaw-dropping demand. Although the company hasn't released an exactly how many SNES Classics it plans to ship altogether (including this year and next), it's expected to be a lofty figure. As the NES Classic Edition sold over two million units across the globe, if Nintendo is making even more SNES Classics than that, then it stands to reason that the final figure clears that bar.

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From the time that SNES Classic Edition pre-orders went live, the console has been hard to get. The console appeals to both longstanding SNES fans who enjoyed the console when it was first released as well as those looking to see what the fuss is about with retro gaming. The fact that the console will be released during the busy holiday shopping season also helps. But Nintendo's announcement that SNES Classic will be shipped into 2018 could, in theory, make it much easier to get.

Hopefully, this announcement will also mean that fans don't have to resort to buying the console from scalpers, either. The SNES Classic Edition has been selling at a premium on sites like eBay, where scalpers are taking advantage of that demand and the disappointment of not buying a limited edition system. Nintendo has warned fans away from paying through the nose for the console, but its change in shipping plans means that players can avoid spending a lot of money and still get their hands on a SNES Classic.

The SNES Classic Edition is set to release on September 29, 2017.