Rare SNES prototype sells for record-breaking $6.4m at Japanese auction

A rare prototype of the Super Nintendo has been put up for auction in Japan, with bids already exceeding $6.4 million and four days remaining until the auction ends.

The exceptional model of the Super Nintendo was listed on a Japanese auction website Yahoo Japan on May 5, 2024. Despite its resemblance to the final version that was ultimately released in Japan and Europe, there were some variations in its design.

The console is identified as a Super Famicom, which is the Japanese version of the system. A notable difference in the prototype is the striking red power switch, as well as a headphone jack and volume wheel on the side. Additionally, the prototype has an expansion port on the front, while in the final design, this port is located underneath the console.

The initial bid for the auction was set at 5,000 yen, equivalent to approximately $32. However, the bidding did not stay at this amount for long. In a short amount of time, the bids increased drastically, surpassing $1 million and showing no signs of slowing down.

As of the current moment, bids have reached an astounding 1,000,003,000 yen, which is equivalent to more than $6.4 million. A total of 591 bids have been documented thus far, and the auction still has four days and three hours remaining. It is uncertain whether these bids are authentic or if they are merely artificially increasing the price without any intention of buying.

In 2020, the Nintendo PlayStation, a prototype of a disk-based console that was a result of a collaboration between Nintendo and Sony, was auctioned off for $360,000. Despite never being released, it played a significant role in the development of the original Sony PlayStation.