Sunsoft just rolled out a wonderfully odd promo: a genuine 24k gold ROUTE16TURBO cartridge replica will go to one lucky winner as part of the launch push for ROUTE16R. The giveaway opened on May 14 and runs through June 19, with entry handled via the company’s official social post. It’s a playful bit of retro showmanship that also neatly spotlights the series’ return this summer.
Yes, it’s actually 24k gold
Per the announcement, the top prize is a "ROUTE16TURBO pure gold cartridge" made from real 24k gold and weighing about 4.1 grams. It’s a display piece, not a functioning Famicom cart, and it’s smaller than the original hardware. Ten additional winners will receive Amazon gift codes worth 4,100 yen. Entry is open to anyone who follows Sunsoft’s account and reposts the campaign post during the window.
The gold replica nods to the storied era of gold-colored cartridges that occasionally showed up as limited runs or event prizes. Sunsoft never released a gold Famicom cart back in the day, but the company did produce gold-colored replicas for backers during a 2023 crowdfunding effort. This new promo takes that idea to its logical, shinier extreme.