The excitement surrounding the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 was palpable, especially with its enhanced graphical capabilities. While fans eagerly await a new 3D Mario game—it's been nearly eight years since Super Mario Odyssey—the announcement of titles like the open-world Mario Kart World, the return of Donkey Kong with Donkey Kong Bananza, and the intriguing The Duskbloods, a pseudo-successor to Bloodborne, added to the anticipation. However, the spotlight quickly shifted to the pricing of the console and its associated games and accessories.
The Nintendo Switch 2 itself is priced at $449.99, which, while not unreasonable for 2025 technology, raises questions about the overall cost of entry. The $80 price tag for Mario Kart World, in particular, has sparked significant discussion. This is a noticeable jump from the usual $60 to $70 we've come to expect for new releases. The cost of additional joy-cons at $90 for multiplayer, along with the necessity of a Nintendo Online membership for global play, significantly adds to the total investment. Given the reveal trailer's emphasis on 24-player co-op and new social features like GameChat and photo mode, it's hard not to feel a bit of cynicism about these pricing decisions.
Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery
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On the flip side, some argue that Mario Kart World offers excellent value for money. Given its potential to be the sole Mario Kart game for the Switch 2's lifespan, akin to Mario Kart 8's decade-long run, $80 could be seen as reasonable for years of enjoyment. In a gaming landscape increasingly dominated by free-to-play models like Fortnite, where players might spend equivalent amounts on in-game purchases over time, the value proposition of a premium game like Mario Kart World might still hold up. Comparing it to other entertainment costs, such as a family cinema outing, a decade of Mario Kart doesn't seem exorbitant.
However, the pricing strategy becomes more concerning when looking at other titles. Donkey Kong Bananza is set at a slightly more palatable $69.99, but with Switch 2 versions of Kirby and the Forgotten Land and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom also priced at $80, it raises questions about future game pricing trends across the industry. Will other publishers follow suit, as we look towards titles like GTA 6?
The issue of upgrading older games to the Switch 2 also warrants attention. PlayStation has offered $10 upgrades for some PS4 games to their PS5 versions, which has been generally well-received. If Nintendo follows suit with a similar pricing model for enhanced Switch games on the Switch 2, it might not face much backlash. However, if the upgrades are priced higher, it could deter players from investing in these enhancements.
For instance, you can currently purchase The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for $52 on Amazon, which is $28 less than the Switch 2 version. The price difference is even more pronounced in the UK, where the original version costs £45 compared to £75 for the Switch 2 edition. If the upgrade cost aligns with the difference between the original MSRP of $70 and the new $80, it might be more economical to buy the original and then upgrade for a potential $10 fee.
These considerations are speculative, but the only concrete information we have so far is that enhanced versions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will be available through a Nintendo Online + Expansion Pack membership, currently priced at $49.99 per year. Whether this pricing will change in the near future remains to be seen, but it does offer a way to access upgraded games without additional cost—provided the membership remains active.
The decision to charge for the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a virtual exhibition with minigames, feels out of place. Typically, such introductions are included with new consoles, as seen with Astro's Playroom on the PlayStation 5, which was both free and celebrated the platform's history. The Switch 2 Welcome Tour's fee seems reminiscent of the criticized pricing strategies of Sony's PS3 launch.
AnswerSee ResultsDespite these pricing concerns, the Switch 2 itself appears to be a solid evolution of its predecessor. With a robust game library and the goodwill earned from the original Switch, it's unlikely to be a step backward for Nintendo. The console and its announced games look promising, with more exciting titles likely on the horizon. However, the pricing of launch titles and potential upgrades could affect its reception. Hopefully, Nintendo will heed the backlash and avoid setting a new, higher standard for game prices.While the cost of the Switch 2 and its ecosystem does overshadow the reveal to some extent, it doesn't completely detract from the excitement. It's a reminder of the balance between innovation and affordability that Nintendo must navigate as it moves forward.
