If you are a fan of video games in general, you are very likely familiar with the Punch-Out!! franchise, known for presenting the world with what many still consider to be the best boxing game ever released in 1987’s Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!.
And now, a vital piece of this history is being preserved: the anonymous patron of the rare prototype version of Punch-Out!!!, auctioned via Heritage Auctions on March 27, 2026, making it available for study. As you can see in the Video Game History Foundation’s video below, the prototype presents a version of the title still lacking its poster boy, as well as most of its boxers and main mechanics.
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According to The Cutting Room Floor, which offers an extremely comprehensive look at the prototype’s features, the item was owned by a former Nintendo employee who sold it through a garage sale. Its current owner then acquired it for an alleged sum of $45,000. To give you a better idea of how rare an item this is, Punch Out!! is only the second first-party NES prototype to ever be offered to Heritage Auctions, with the first being the Super Mario Bros. 3 Prototype sold for over $30,000 in September 2020.
Nevertheless, the items’ newfound availability can be seen as the biggest reflection of what gaming preservation is about, with its owner now being hailed as a hero among both experts and fans alike.
How To Play Punch-Out Right Now
If you are like me and have a sudden urge to take on the ring after learning about this story, you can currently play multiple Punch Out!! titles on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, with Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! only being available as Punch-Out‼ Featuring Mr. Dream on the Nintendo (NES) Classics Collection, courtesy of the loss of Iron Mike’s license in the early 90’s.
If you are a fan of the formula but don’t have a Nintendo console, there’s also a good array of Punch-Out-likes available at the market, with Thunder Ray being my highlight for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC alike.
Published: Apr 10, 2026 01:00 pm