At a Glance
- Talking Flower drops on March 12 in select stores and online.
- The plant talks twice per hour and can be programmed for wake-up or sleep cues.
- It supports 11 languages and features a music mode that plays a Super Mario song.
- Why it matters: Nintendo’s first AI-enabled tabletop toy offers a playful, less-annoying alternative to recent child-centric AI gadgets.
Nintendo’s newest tabletop creation, the Talking Flower, is set to arrive on March 12. The potted plant, complete with a sousaphone-shaped mouth and bright eyes, will speak autonomously and can be activated by a button. The toy’s launch follows a wave of AI-powered toys that have drawn criticism for their content and lack of parental controls.
What Is the Talking Flower?
The concept is simple: a flower that talks. The device is a small pot that holds a plant-like structure. Its mouth resembles a sousaphone, and its eyes shine with a curious glow.
- Voice Lines: The toy will talk about twice per hour. Sample lines include “Sometimes it’s nice to space out” and “Is it weird for flowers to talk?”
- Button Activation: Kids can press a large button to trigger additional lines such as “Make sure you’re getting your veggies.”
- Sensors: The plant senses the time of day and ambient room temperature, offering context-specific lines.
- Programming: Users can program wake-up or sleep messages, though the toy will intentionally get the time wrong occasionally, adding a playful surprise.
- Night Mode: The device is designed not to speak during the night.
- Music Mode: When activated, the plant shouts “Wonder” before playing a song from the Super Mario Bros. Wonder game.
- Languages: The Talking Flower supports 11 languages, making it useful for multilingual households.
Nintendo emphasized that the toy is “far less annoying than most of the spouting AI gadgets that have cropped up in the last few years.” The company’s statement was released in an overview trailer posted first to the Nintendo Today! app.
Release and Availability
The Talking Flower will be available in the New York and San Francisco Nintendo stores and online through the My Nintendo Store. The release date of March 12 aligns with Nintendo’s broader product push, including a new Super Mario Bros. Wonder update.
Key Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Talking Flower release | March 12 |
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder update | March 26 |
The toy’s launch is part of a lineup that also includes a $100 Virtual Boy recreation device and new purple and green Joy-Cons 2, again selling for $100.
Comparison to Other AI Toys
At CES 2026, a surge of kid-centric toys featuring AI sparked concern. Late last year, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund (PIRG) and NBC reported that some of these toys could discuss BDSM topics, such as impact play, or provide instructions on lighting a match or finding a knife.
Nintendo’s Talking Flower is positioned as a safer, more controlled alternative. It offers:
- Autonomous voice lines that are pre-approved.
- No ability to provide dangerous instructions.
- A button that allows children to control when the plant speaks.
The toy’s design philosophy emphasizes surprise rather than accuracy, which Nintendo claims makes it less likely to become a nuisance.
Nintendo’s Other Upcoming Releases
The Talking Flower’s launch coincides with several other Nintendo products:
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park: A paid-for upgrade pack adding multiplayer modes, new boss courses featuring all seven Koopalings, two new playable characters, Rosalina, and Co-Star Luma. It will release on March 26.
- Virtual Boy recreation device: A $100 device that revives the classic 3-D gaming experience.
- Joy-Cons 2: New purple and green controllers also priced at $100.
These releases illustrate Nintendo’s strategy of pairing hardware, software, and ancillary products to create a cohesive ecosystem.
Consumer Reception
While the Talking Flower has not yet entered the market, early reviews from a handful of testers suggest mixed feelings. Some parents appreciate the plant’s gentle voice and the ability to program it, while others find the button-activated chatter occasionally disruptive.
A parent who tested the toy noted, “I’ll admit, I’m the type of person who will try to annoy my roommate by hammering the Talking Flower’s talk button.” The comment highlights that the toy’s design allows for playful interaction without being overly intrusive.
Key Takeaways
- The Talking Flower is a talking plant toy that will release on March 12.
- It offers autonomous voice lines, a button for kids, and supports 11 languages.
- Nintendo markets it as a safer, less annoying alternative to recent AI toys.
- The release aligns with a broader product push, including a Super Mario Bros. Wonder update, a Virtual Boy recreation, and new Joy-Cons 2.
- Early feedback points to both playful engagement and occasional frustration from the button feature.
Nintendo’s entry into the AI-enabled toy market signals a cautious approach to child-centric technology, blending entertainment with parental control.
