Nintendo Alarm Clock Hits Stores Ahead of GTA 6 Release

Nintendo's Surprise: An Interactive Alarm Clock and a Mysterious Switch Online Playtest

Forget your expectations for 2024 – Nintendo has launched a truly unique product: the Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo. This interactive alarm clock, priced at $99, uses game sounds to rouse you from slumber. Imagine waking up to the sounds of Mario, Zelda, or Splatoon! And that's not all; free updates with additional game soundtracks are on the way.

The Alarmo's ingenuity lies in its motion-sensing technology. It won't stop its cheerful (or increasingly insistent) melodies until you're out of bed. Nintendo describes this as a "brief victory fanfare," acknowledging the daily struggle of leaving the warmth of your blankets. The alarm's intensity increases the longer you stay under the covers, motivating you to finally rise and shine.

Setting up the Alarmo is simple: choose a game theme, select a scene, set your wake-up time, and let the interactive fun begin. While waving your hand in front of the device will momentarily quiet the alarm, only getting out of bed will silence it completely.

Utilizing a radio wave sensor, the Alarmo measures your distance and movement speed without compromising your privacy. Unlike camera-based solutions, it doesn't record video, and its radio wave technology allows for detection even in dark rooms or with obstacles present. Nintendo developer Tetsuya Akama highlighted the device's ability to detect subtle movements while maintaining user privacy.

For a limited time, Nintendo Switch Online members in the US and Canada can purchase the Alarmo online through the My Nintendo Store. It's also available in-person at the Nintendo New York store while supplies last.

Beyond the Alarmo, Nintendo has announced a Switch Online playtest. Applications open October 10th (8:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM ET) and close October 15th (7:59 AM PT / 10:59 AM ET), or earlier if the 10,000 participant limit is reached. This playtest, focusing on a new Nintendo Switch Online feature, runs from October 23rd to November 5th. Eligibility requires an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, age 18 or older, and a Nintendo Account registered in specific countries (Japan, USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, or Spain).