Nintendo's Latest amiibo Figures Are Going To Be Just As Tough To Get

If you're an avid amiibo collector, you may well be feeling the heat after the April 1 Nintendo Direct, during which several new figures were either dated or announced. The special NFC figures have been one of the hottest commodities within gaming over the past few months, prompting collectors, scalpers, and even layman consumers to snap up the rarer figures any way they could. With supply extremely low and demand through the roof, it's been a gamble since day one whether or not the different waves of the figures would be available at any retailer online or in-store, and even die-hard amiibo hunters are feeling the effects now, many of which share the same sentiment that they're "done" with the chase and too frustrated to continue the mad dash for $12.99 figures that retailers like Target or Toys "R" Us underestimate the demand for.

Nevertheless, the craze is still going strong, as Nintendo announced a brand new wave of amiibo during the Nintendo Direct recently. The Super Smash Bros. collection of figures is coming (not that anyone is surprised there's another wave!) and it includes Pac-Man, Wario, Jigglypuff, Greninja, Lucina, Robin, and Ness. This round is set to hit retail store shelves on May 29, but preorders that already went live online for retail-specific characters like Jigglypuff and Greninja have already sold out, minutes after their announcement and subsequent availability.

The upcoming new wave of Super Smash Bros. amiibo figures aren't the last, however. The Nintendo Direct presentation also showcased a separate wave including Zero Suit Samus, Ganondorf, Olimar, Dr. Mario, Dark Pit, Palutena, and Bowser Jr. Some will be releasing this July, with the others in September.

Even the upcoming Wii U free-for-all Splatoon is getting some love, with the Inkling Boy and Girl set coming out on May 29. Both will be sold together as a set for those wishing to expand their collections, and they'll also be available on their own in the event you want to pick up some doubles for play. They'll be used to add weapons and gear and can be used in tandem with the actual game, as well as others (we assume) in the future.

Yoshi fans will also be privy to three special Yoshi amiibo figures to be released alongside Yoshi's Woolly World. These aren't your everyday plastic figure, either. They're made entirely out of actual yarn just like the characters in the game, coming in pastel blue, pink, and green. They'll only be able to be used on the Wii U, but they're so adorable it just doesn't matter!

Unfortunately, as things seem to happen with these figures, it'll likely be a difficult race to the finish line for fans looking to snap them all up, with Wave 1 amiibo figures still out of stock, hard to find, and straight up impossible to nab through methods outside of eBay or international retailers. However, with amiibo Cards coming this fall and the first round becoming active with the Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, those wishing to use the figures for their intended purpose beyond collecting and/or hoarding can purchase cards instead for use with the NFC reader. There's even a dedicated NFC reader on its way to ensure those who haven't purchased a New 3DS XL can still get in on the fun.

There's plenty of awesome figures on the way, but be wary, Nintendo fans: You may be waiting quite a while to bag all of these special amiibo, but at least you've got some pretty pictures to look at in the meantime!