Copy of Super Mario Bros. Sells For $3 Million In Auction
Kotaku • • technology
Key Points:
- Heritage Auctions sold a sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. for $3 million, setting a record for the highest amount paid for a single video game.
- The copy is distinguished by an intact "coveted gloss sticker seal" from the second production run in 1985, a feature that ceased shortly after in favor of shrink-wrap plastic, with only three known sealed copies from this batch.
- The auction included a boxed NES console, although it did not come with the game Duck Hunt, highlighting the item's value more as a collectible than for gameplay.
- This sale follows a trend of high-value auctions for rare versions of otherwise common games, sparking debate over whether prices are driven by genuine rarity or brand familiarity.
- A class action lawsuit against grading company Wata Games alleges manipulation of game values to inflate auction prices and enhance the company's reputation, an issue still under legal review.