Nintendo has announced the first 12 amiibo interactive figures available for preorder. They will cost $12.99 each.
The 12 figures include those announced at E3 2014. Super Smash Bros. will be the first game to incorporate the figures functionality, with other games such as Mario Kart 8, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and Mario Party 10 following suit.
"Nintendo's foray into the toys-to-life category starts today, with the first 12 amiibo figures available to pre-order from select retailers," Nintendo said in a statement. "Super Smash Bros.for Wii U, which launches this holiday season, will be the first game with full integration of amiibo functionality."
The characters announced so far include Mario, Peach, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Pikachu, Kirby, Fox, Marth, Villager and Wii Fit Trainer.
The amiibo figures were first revealed at E3 2014 and they use NFC to act as a kind of memory card for video games. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U will be the first game that will make use of the figurines, and each figurine will essentially store statistics and fighting style as it is played.
"Other games that will support amiibo include Mario Kart 8, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Mario Party 10 and Yoshi's Woolly World, with more to come," continued Nintendo. "More details on amiibo functionality with the various games and a launch date will be revealed shortly."
This is not the only Nintendo related news to come up in the past week. The character list of the popular upcoming game was recently leaked showing that characters like Shulk, Bowser Jr. and Laughing Dog will all appear in the game. Favorites from past Super Smash Bros. games will also appear, including Samus, Pikachu and Donkey Kong are also expected to make a return in the game.
Nintendo also revealed its new Nintendo 3DS today, along with the new "Nintendo 3DS XL." Both of these devices will include a small "C-Stick," along with NFC, which will support the new amiibo figures.
Details about the functionality of the figurines as well as the launch date of them will be revealed in the coming weeks. While the release date has not yet been officially released, Nintendo has said that the NFC amiibo figures will be released before the end of 2014. Despite the figures being released before the end of the year, a number of the games that the figures will work with are set to be released in 2015.