McDonald's-Branded Nintendo DSi Delisted After Rare Japanese Hardware Listing Draws Attention

In a rare turn of events for gaming hardware enthusiasts, a McDonald’s-branded Nintendo DSi was briefly listed for sale at a second-hand retailer in Japan, before being swiftly removed following intervention from the global fast-food giant.

The unique console, dating back to McDonald’s collaboration with Nintendo, is notable for containing the exclusive 'eCrew Development Program' software, a training tool once used for employee instruction across McDonald’s outlets in Japan. For background, the Nintendo DSi, developed and distributed by Nintendo, launched in 2008 and enjoyed broad popularity due to its dual-screen design and robust game library.

Its versatility led to collaborations beyond traditional gaming—most notably, McDonald’s Japan equipped select DSi units with custom software to guide staff through restaurant procedures.

This exclusive setup was utilized internally until 2018, when McDonald’s transitioned to tablets for staff training purposes. Earlier this week, a single McDonald’s Nintendo DSi appeared at Hard-Off, a well-known second-hand electronics store chain in Japan.

The product’s listing quickly gained traction online, reportedly catching the attention of McDonald’s Japan headquarters.

In response, McDonald’s expressed disappointment regarding the public sale of what it regards as proprietary corporate training hardware.

The listing was rapidly pulled, and Hard-Off issued a statement on social platform X (formerly Twitter), affirming: “We are temporarily discontinuing the sale of the McDonald’s DSi training model while we confirm the situation with McDonald’s.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.” While various McDonald’s-branded DSi consoles and their accompanying eCrew Development Program cartridges have sporadically surfaced on online marketplaces like eBay in the past, this particular incident garnered unusual attention, likely due to the viral nature of the post.

Despite similar devices occasionally being available in the aftermarket, this marks one of the few times McDonald’s has actively intervened to address a sale. The episode underscores the ongoing fascination with unique Nintendo hardware variants, especially those tied to non-gaming applications and limited corporate releases.

For Nintendo collectors and preservationists, the McDonald’s DSi represents not only a rare piece of hardware but also an intriguing chapter in the evolving history of in-store staff training methodologies, from consoles like the Nintendo DSi to modern tablets—and perhaps, one day, platforms like the Nintendo Switch. As it stands, the McDonald’s Nintendo DSi remains an elusive artifact, reflecting both the enduring popularity of Nintendo’s handheld devices and McDonald’s commitment to controlling its proprietary training resources.

For now, collectors will need to keep a sharp eye on the resale market if they hope to acquire this rare slice of gaming and corporate history.

Nintendo Japan McDonald's DSi Nintendo DSi Rare