Rumor – New Wii U GamePad Spotted in Japanese Mario Kart 8 Ad (Update)

Update: There is no official statement from Nintendo regarding the GamePad or any redesign; we apologize for any potential misleading and admit that this “rumor” was a bit of a long stretch. Until the publisher comes out with some kind of official statement, we are calling this one “dead.” You can still see the original article below.

Rumors are circulating about a re-designed Wii U GamePad that appears in a Japanese commercial for Mario Kart 8.

Keen-eyed viewers of MyNintendoNews were apparently the first to spot the slim-and-trim version of the GamePad. Check out the freeze-frame image below:

Hrmmm…Looks an awful lot like a PlayStation Vita, don’t you think?

In case you want to see for yourself, here’s the full Mario Kart 8 commercial:

Check back soon; we will be sure to update this story once official word comes from Nintendo.

For now, consider this one an unlikely rumor, but take note.

Update: There is no official statement from Nintendo regarding the GamePad or any redesign; we apologize for any potential misleading and admit that this “rumor” was a bit of a long stretch. Until the publisher comes out with some kind of official statement, we are calling this one “dead.” You can still see the original article above.