Nintendo enlisted actor Paul Rudd to promote the Nintendo Switch 2 in a nostalgic new commercial that playfully recreates his iconic 1990s Super Nintendo ad with perfect cheese-factor.
The original 1991 commercial featured a young Rudd sporting retro 90s fashion - long black coat, beaded necklace, and distinctive hairstyle - dramatically approaching a drive-in theater with an SNES. The spot showed him hooking up the console to play classics like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and F-Zero on the big screen, drawing an amazed crowd before delivering the memorable tagline: "Now you're playing with power."
The new Switch 2 version shows an uncannily similar-looking Rudd - despite 34 years passing - complete with the same coat, necklace, and hairstyle. This time, he bursts into a living room setup with comics Joe Lo Truglio and Jordan Carlos, plus a child who calls him "Uncle Paul." They demo Mario Kart World using the console's GameChat feature while joking about Rudd's dated outfit and 90s-era intensity - complete with purposely-cheesy fog machine and wind effects mirroring the original ad's dramatic style.
The spot culminates with Rudd updating the classic catchphrase: "Now we're playing together." While intentionally corny, the commercial delivers nostalgic charm by embracing the original's goofy earnestness.
IGN spoke with Rudd about recreating the commercial three decades later. The actor revealed he likely wore his personal beaded necklace in the first ad, and that he kept playing Mario Kart World between takes - though regrettably wasn't allowed to keep a Switch 2.
Recent updates confirm Nintendo Switch 2 preorders reopening April 24 at the original $450 price point, though accessory costs have risen due to U.S. tariffs. Check our preorder guide for all availability details.
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