As the next-generation console wars is commencing Sony and Microsoft are currently firing off their opening salvos. Nintendo’s Wii U sales have been lagging, but Nintendo has a secret weapon coming out this Christmas season that may just trump the competition in home gaming – a mahjong set!

I said “may.”

Nintendo’s newest mahjong set will be called Yakuman Hōō and comes with a full set of tiles all meticulously made to Nintendo’s own self-set standards of luster, smoothness, and excellent feel.

All the suits of the tile are familiar to the Nintendo’s Yakuman series started in 1964, but the Hōō set will come with a unique Circle-1 tile designed with a turtle. In addition, the chips are engraved with the Nintendo logo.

After Nintendo branched into the highly successful field of video games, they turned their back on making physical mahjong sets focusing on digital Yakuman titles. However, on 29 November, 2013 the appropriately named Yakuman Hōō goes on sale. “Hōō” is the Japanese name for a mythical bird that is often referred to as a phoenix by western standards.

At the price of 18,900 yen (US$189) it’s only a fraction of the price of a PS4 or XBox One. Could Nintendo’s mahjong phoenix rise to defeat these titans of games? As a degenerate gambler who’s lost several thousands of dollars in mahjong parlors, I’m willing to bet YES!!!

Source: Nintendo via NariNari (Japanese)

▼ Alright I know what you’re all thinking; “Where’s the mat?” Well, Nintendo’s been selling that all along for 5,250 yen ($52).