Nintendo is getting a surprising partnership with Swiss luxury brand Tag Heuer for the production of two new Mario Kart watches. The luxury designs won't come cheap, but for fans of the iconic kart racer video game, it may be something worth checking out.
Mario Kart has seen massive success ever since its original release back in the early 1990s. While Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the most recent entry on Nintendo's home consoles is technically a port of the Wii U release, it's seen a great deal of additional content added both with its initial release and subsequent Booster Course DLC, cementing its success as an excellent series entry.
Many people likely only play Mario Kart on a casual basis with friends, but for the Mario Kart die-hards, these two stunning watches are worth a look. Tag Heuer has unveiled two separate designs, the Formula 1 x Mario Kart Limited Edition (Chronograph) and the Formula 1 x Mario Kart Limited Edition (Chronograph Tourbillon). Both designs come complete with moving parts and iconic Mario Kart characters and objects, like Mario, Bullet Bill, the slippery banana, and even the dreaded blue shell.
The two watches will go on sale on October 20 on Tag Heuer's official site, and quantities are limited, so fans are encouraged to sign up for the site's mailing list to be alerted as to when the orders have opened. However, interested fans will have to open their wallets too, as the Chronograph version of the watch is selling for $4,300, while the Chrronograph Tourbillon version is going for a whopping $25,600.
Video game companies pairing up with jewelers and watch makers isn't new, as other games have seen collectible time pieces and ornaments sold for high prices, too. It's also not the first partnership that Tag Heuer has had, as the company has seen affiliations with F1 teams, Tiger Woods, and even served as the official timekeeper of the Olympics in the 1920s. However, the company has also seen partnerships with games before, as it was featured as the timekeeper for Gran Turismo Sport for three years. The brand has also featured Chris Hemsworth as a brand ambassador, who of course stars alongside Mario's new voice actor Chris Pratt in the latest Thor film and The Avengers franchise.
While not everyone will be interested or able to afford these watches, the existence of expensive gaming collectable products like these shows that many adults are carrying their childhood favorites forward with them. While the watch is decorated with video game emblems, the general design is understated but distinguished, likely making it a worthy timepiece of professional adults who still keep their inner child alive.
Source: Tag Heuer