Nintendo Can Get Away With Raising Prices Because of Console Exclusives Games – Former PlayStation Boss

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Despite receiving criticism for the high price of the Switch 2 and its first-party games, Nintendo, according to former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden, may still be able to justify these costs due to the exceptional quality of their in-house titles, which allows them to take bolder pricing decisions. In an interview with PlayerDriven, Layden explained this concept.

During the interview (you can find it here), Layden discussed the varied prices between the original Switch and the upcoming Switch 2, not just for the consoles but also for their respective games. He even mentioned the $80 price point of the launch game titled Mario Kart World.

Layden stated (as transcribed by IGN), ‘You might notice here, ‘wow, that’s quite a significant increase from Switch 1 to Switch 2, and wow, $80 for a game?’ But if it’s the sole platform for games like Mario, then you pull out your wallet and invest in it… and Donkey Kong and Zelda. The exclusivity of these first-party games helps to soften the impact of these price increases, as the desire for this content is so strong.’

In a related discussion, Layden mentioned that inflation hasn’t significantly impacted the cost of video games throughout their history. To elaborate, the prices of these games have remained relatively stable over an extended period. For instance, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, launched in 2009, was among the initial AAA titles to increase its price from $50 to $60 during that time.

As a gamer reflecting on the past and present, I’ve noticed an interesting point about game prices over time. If we consider the value of $59.99 from 1999, it’s equivalent to around $100 now due to inflation. That got me thinking – if games were to adjust their prices in line with inflation trends, they would be roughly $90 today. For instance, if a price hike of $5 occurred with each new console generation, this is where we’d be.

He stated, “In terms of today’s value, $59.99 in 1999 is equivalent to approximately $100. This means that the purchasing power you had back then, compared to your current cost of living, has decreased significantly. However, companies have been hesitant to raise prices proportionally.

At that point, it seems reasonable that they might have incrementally increased their software price by $5 with each new generation. If this had been done consistently, the price would have risen to around $90 by now.

In a separate conversation, Nintendo of America’s vice president for Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, expressed their viewpoint on the pricing strategy. During this discussion, he mentioned that they consider the high-quality nature of Mario Kart World to be sufficient justification for its $80 price tag.

Trinen explained that when considering the pricing for “Mario Kart World,” they focus less on the strategy aspect and more on evaluating the overall gaming experience, the quality of its content, and the worth it provides to players.

Regarding Mario Kart World, as you noticed in the Nintendo Direct, I won’t drop any hints, but having read your article this morning, it seemed like you didn’t find much to explore while wandering around. Therefore, I suggest you watch our upcoming Mario Kart Direct to see if there might be more to discover.

To put it simply, this game is incredibly expansive and full of hidden gems. As you explore it, you’ll uncover a multitude of intriguing aspects. Moreover, I believe that as more players delve into the game, they’ll discover what could very well be the most immersive Mario Kart experience they’ve ever encountered.

The anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2 is set for June 5th, with an initial price tag of $449.99. However, there’s uncertainty about whether potential U.S. tariffs might lead to a rise in its cost.

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2025-04-11 18:41