Nintendo Switch 2 ad brings back Paul Rudd in a 90s throwback

Cliff Notes – Nintendo Switch 2 ad brings back Paul Rudd in a 90s throwback

• Nintendo has revived Paul Rudd’s 1991 SNES ad for its new Switch 2 marketing campaign, showcasing the actor’s nostalgic connection to the brand.
• The new advert features Rudd using the console’s GameChat feature, cleverly reworking the original tagline to emphasise social gaming.
• Despite some criticism regarding the choppy video footage, the ad has received a positive response, garnering a significant like-to-dislike ratio on YouTube.

Nintendo Switch 2 ad brings back Paul Rudd in a 90s throwback

Nintendo must be high-fiving itself for realising it had Paul Rudd in an old 90s ad (YouTube)

Paul Rudd’s appearance in a new Nintendo Switch 2 advert is a callback to one he made for the SNES in 1991.

One of the easiest ways to advertise anything to the general public is with a celebrity endorsement. Video games are no exception and it’s something Nintendo has been doing for decades.

It had the likes of Christina Aguilera and Brie Larson promote the original Nintendo Switch, while Robin Williams advertised The Legend Of Zelda and Rik Mayall appeared in a series of UK ads in the 90s.

Now, Nintendo has capitalised on that history, kicking off the marketing campaign for the Switch 2 by bringing in Marvel movie star Paul Rudd to advertise the console.

Over the weekend, Nintendo uploaded a new Switch 2 trailer that sees the Ant-Man actor boot up the console and its GameChat feature, to play some Mario Kart World with his friends and family (or paid actors, we’re not sure which).

If you’re wondering what Paul Rudd has to do with Nintendo, you’re probably not the only one, especially if you weren’t around during the early 90s and the launch of the SNES.

The difference is that Rudd wasn’t famous back then and his 1991 advert was long before any of his major movie or TV credits.

Over the weekend, Nintendo uploaded the original SNES ad, which initially caused some confusion because it seemed very random. But then Nintendo immediately uploaded the new ad as well.

The new ad goes to show that despite how famously youthful he looks, Rudd does in fact age. Although without the wig the comparison would be a lot more flattering.

Not only does he have the same hair as the SNES ad but Rudd is also wearing the same 90s style clothes. It’s a cute touch and the ad also reworks the SNES tagline from ‘Now you’re playing with power’ to ‘Now you’re playing together.’

Christina Aguilera, Brie Larson, and Robin Williams (but, we’re willing to bet, not Rik Mayall) were all self-avowed Nintendo fans but it’s not clear whether Rudd is or not. Although he certainly seems to be enjoying himself in the ad.

On a more serious note, what’s interesting about the ad is that, like during the Switch 2 Direct, the video footage shown from other webcams is extremely, and very noticeably, choppy.

That is, no doubt, how it will look in real-life, so in a sense Nintendo should be congratulated for not pretending otherwise, and just slapping some fake footage onto it. But it is a very strange way to advertise one of the new console’s key features.

As a reminder, GameChat will be free for everyone when the Switch 2 launches, but only until March 31, 2026. After that, you’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to access it.

Judging by the likes ratio on YouTube, the ad appears to be a hit regardless, with 49,000 likes compared to only 3,400 dislikes at time of writing.

‘The self-awareness of this was fun. The fog machine blowing cheaply with the fan? That was just nice. Not just redoing it, but doing it tongue in cheek. Great job!,’ reads one comment.

‘Ok, this took me off-guard. Bringing back Paul Rudd in that exact attire for a commercial like he did in the 90s is so peak!’ reads another.

Plenty of others commented on how this ad is the first proof of Rudd aging, but our favourite has to be this one: ‘We got a sequel to the Super Nintendo commercial starring Paul Rudd before another GTA 6 trailer.’

Has Paul Rudd convinced you to get a Switch 2? (Nintendo)

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