Nintendo has enlisted the charm of actor Paul Rudd to generate excitement for the Nintendo Switch 2 in a new commercial that humorously and affectionately nods to a classic 90s ad he starred in for the Super Nintendo.
The original 1991 commercial featured a young Rudd, sporting a long black jacket, a beaded necklace, and a distinctive hairstyle, confidently striding into a drive-in movie theater with a Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in hand. He connected it to the big screen and started playing iconic games like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, F-Zero, and Sim City, attracting a captivated audience. The ad famously concluded with the slogan, "Now you're playing with power."
In the new Nintendo Switch 2 commercial, Rudd, now 34 years older yet remarkably unchanged in appearance, dons the same iconic outfit. This time, he enters a living room and sets up the Nintendo Switch 2 to play Mario Kart World with comedians Joe Lo Truglio and Jordan Carlos, along with a child who refers to him as "Uncle Paul." They utilize the system's innovative GameChat feature, and Rudd's companions playfully rib him about his nostalgic attire and the exaggerated style of the original ad, complete with a fog machine and a fan to recreate the dramatic ambiance of the 90s. The commercial wraps up with Rudd humorously adapting the old slogan to, "Now we're playing together," embracing the cheesiness and acknowledging the original's charm in a delightful way.
IGN had the opportunity to interview Rudd about his experience filming this sequel to a Nintendo hardware commercial more than three decades later. Rudd shared that he believes he wore his own beaded necklace in the original ad and enjoyed playing Mario Kart World on set during breaks. Regrettably, he was not allowed to keep a Nintendo Switch 2 after filming. You can watch the complete interview here:
This week, preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 resumed, set for April 24, maintaining the price at $450, despite increased accessory costs due to tariffs in the U.S. For detailed information on securing a preorder, check out our comprehensive guide.
