Nintendo Switch 2 Price Reveal Has Fans Scratching Their Heads

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During a discussion with investors prior to the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa highlighted that affordability would be a key factor in determining the price for this highly anticipated successor to their popular and worldwide bestselling hybrid device. Historically, Nintendo has been known for launching hardware that is budget-friendly, often appealing even to families who might purchase multiple units. So while it may not have come as a surprise, Furukawa’s statement served as an important benchmark for evaluating the console’s price.

As a dedicated Nintendo fan, I’m finding it hard not to express some disappointment upon seeing the price tag of the upcoming Switch 2. While the array of features and enhancements unveiled certainly spark excitement, when considering Nintendo’s own standards, there’s an argument to be made that they may have missed the mark on pricing.

This isn’t a reflection on the potential success or performance of the Switch 2 itself; in fact, Nintendo’s conviction in the system, its games, and accessories is evident in their strategic decision-making. However, it’s the pricing strategy specifically where I feel they may have stumbled. Let’s delve deeper into this aspect soon.

Instead of dwelling on potential negatives initially, let’s discuss the advantages first. The pricing for the Switch 2 seems quite reasonable considering its features. Although $399 might have been preferred by many, $449 isn’t excessively expensive, given the enhancements it offers. These include a larger 1080p HDR screen with 120FPS support and VRR compatibility, 4K support in docked mode, hardware capable of running contemporary games like Elden Ring, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Borderlands 4, Star Wars Outlaws, Split Fiction, and even technical showcases such as Cyberpunk 2077. Additionally, it boasts improved 3D audio functionality, mouse functionality built into the controllers, and overall improvements in build and hardware quality. So, while some might find it a bit pricier than expected, $450 (if it doesn’t increase after the recent pre-orders delay for USA) seems a fair price for the Switch 2 hardware itself.

This device is comparably affordably priced to other hardware with similar specifications. Many handheld devices (be they computers or otherwise) that you might find at a lower price point won’t be able to run games like Star Wars Outlaws because they lack raytracing hardware and capabilities entirely, and Outlaws doesn’t have a version without raytracing. However, it seems the Switch 2 can run this game effortlessly.

In other words, the cost of the new hardware is reasonably priced compared to similar products. Additionally, Nintendo has ensured that the new hardware, controllers, and accessories are compatible with all previous Switch models, along with the vast majority of games owned by the 150 million Switch users over nearly a decade. This decision on pricing for the Switch 2 is undeniably positive.

Although the Switch 2 hardware is generally considered to be competitively priced, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is affordable for the family demographic Nintendo previously highlighted as crucial. In the current economic climate of 2025, where many families are struggling financially, spending $450 or more on a Switch 2 might not be feasible for a family who already own a cheaper Switch Lite for their child’s enjoyment of games like Pokemon and Animal Crossing. To clarify, I compared the initial price of the Switch 2 to the cost of the Switch Lite, which was a more affordable, scaled-down version of the original Switch that Nintendo released several years after the launch of the original console.

Before the introduction of the Nintendo Switch Lite, there was a valid debate that the initial Switch was overpriced for families, priced at $300. This made it more expensive than any previous Nintendo handheld, even the 3DS which had been rejected by the market despite being launched at a lower price of $250. Additionally, the Switch was tied with being the most expensive launch price for any Nintendo home console. However, over time, Nintendo has provided cheaper options to enter their ecosystem. It’s reasonable to anticipate that a potential Switch 2 Lite might be released in 2026 or 2027, possibly coinciding with the launch of “Animal Crossing” or the first original Switch “Pokemon” game.

Even if you manage to lower the hardware cost (which is quite reasonable as noted), you’ll still encounter exorbitant pricing, particularly with software on the Switch 2. To put it simply, Nintendo seems to be testing the boundaries of what consumers, even those within Nintendo’s massive market, are willing to pay for access to Nintendo games. For instance, the price of “Mario Kart World” is a staggering $80 USD. This price is unheard of and excessive – no game has been launched at $80 in standard edition in the United States yet.

There have been whispers suggesting that Rockstar might release Grand Theft Auto 6 at a price point above the current standard $70, supposedly coming later this year. However, Nintendo unexpectedly surpassed them with their pricing strategy. In certain markets, like some regions in Europe, Nintendo is charging more for physical game copies compared to digital ones. For instance, a digital copy of Mario Kart World costs 80 Euros, while a physical one costs a surprising 90 Euros.

As a gamer, I find that shelling out $500 for the Nintendo Switch 2 bundle feels quite steep. While it’s true that they’ve kindly thrown in this game, which saves me $30, it still leaves me wondering about the initial high asking price. This certainly makes the premium edition more enticing, but it’s hard not to notice how shockingly expensive the starting point is.

The matter of high prices is widespread. Similar to PlayStation, unlike Xbox, Nintendo plans to provide paid updates for games on the original Switch to the Switch 2 version. While you can play these games on a Switch 2 without any additional cost, if you desire the advanced features and enhancements offered by the Switch 2 (the new functionalities unique to it), you’ll need to pay for those upgrades.

Although it’s clear that this model is adhering to Sony’s approach with the PS5, the pricing appears to be less favorable. Upgrades for games like Gran Turismo 7 on PlayStation 4 to 5 typically cost $10, effectively offsetting the price difference between the $60 charged for the PS4 version of a game and the $70 charged for the PS5 version.

It’s worth noting that Nintendo is pricing these upgrades for games like “Breath of the Wild” and “Tears of the Kingdom” at around $20 each, which means if you want 4K and 60FPS versions of both, it will cost you $40. Alternatively, you can opt for a Switch 2 enhanced edition of these games, priced at $80 USD, similar to “Mario Kart”. This cost comparison underscores the high pricing of these updates. However, for Nintendo’s “Zelda” games, the Switch 2 enhancements will be available free of charge to subscribers of the premium tier of the Nintendo Switch Online service. If you’re looking for upgrades for “Super Mario Party Jamboree” or “Kirby and the Forgotten Land”, though, you’ll have to pay an additional cost.

Nintendo games rarely experience price reductions, with temporary sales occurring occasionally but never dropping below 30-35% of their original price. Even after years since launch, games like “Breath of the Wild,” a Switch launch title, are still sold at full price in 2025, eight years later. This means that you can’t expect Nintendo’s future titles for the Switch 2 to be offered at discounted prices in the future – this practice is not common with their games.

For several months now, Nintendo has taken away features that could have lessened the cost of their games, such as their popular voucher system for digital purchases and their gold coins program that offered cash back on digital games. Additionally, they discontinued their Nintendo Selects/Players Choice lineup, which provided budget-priced reissues of games in the Switch generation. As a result, there are currently very few official ways to reduce the price of Nintendo games.

Essentially, Nintendo is capitalizing on its success since it has a strong belief that it can do so without significant backlash. Over almost two centuries, Nintendo has never been as prosperous or strategically advantageous as it is currently. The Switch is poised to conclude as the best-selling system of all time, break sales records for software, and its intellectual properties (IP) and franchises are more popular and pertinent than ever before, largely due to a surge in Switch sales. Additionally, Nintendo’s characters have expanded beyond video games into movies and theme parks, making them multimedia properties. In other words, the majority of the approximately 30 million people who bought Zelda or Pokemon, the 50 million who bought Animal Crossing, or the nearly 70 million who bought Mario Kart are unlikely to abstain from the hardware that plays the next installments of these games for a prolonged period.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got a feeling that the Switch 2 won’t be easily swayed from its path – even with minor issues like occasional spillage or shrinkage in its lifespan. Despite not reaching the astronomical success of the original Switch (over 150 million units sold), it’s safe to predict that this new model will surpass the 100-million mark by the end of its run. In fact, I believe it’ll likely end up in the same ballpark as gaming legends like the Game Boy and PS4 – around the 120-million mark.

Despite facing a smaller scale of Nintendo’s intellectual properties at launch compared to now, and experiencing a more rocky start than the anticipated Switch 2, the 3DS still managed to reach 75 million units sold – this was even before the Nintendo boom brought on by the Switch. The significance of Nintendo’s IPs during the Wii/Wii U era pales in comparison to their current size, suggesting that a certain level of success is inevitable, whether it’s favorable or not.

As a dedicated fan, it’s clear that, much like how PlayStation holds its ground in the home console market, Nintendo rules the roost when it comes to portable gaming systems. With no genuine competitor on the horizon (the Steam Deck has managed to sell just 4 million units according to IDC Estimates’ latest report), the Switch’s impressive sales figure of 150 million speaks volumes about its dominance.

Just as Sony recognized that there were no significant alternatives for customers looking to switch, Nintendo too seems to be taking advantage of this market situation by raising its pricing and fees, potentially to the detriment of consumers.

In a few years, it’s hard to predict exactly what the state of affairs will be, especially regarding software. However, on the hardware side, Nintendo is expected to release an affordable model in the near future. As for the software issues, there are some doubts since solutions like vouchers and gold coins were introduced by Nintendo only after the initial launch of the Switch. So, it’s possible that they may take similar steps to address pricing concerns in the future.

Perhaps Nintendo could opt for a change and offer more regular and improved sales on their games, which we’ll have to wait and see. Despite the impressive appearance of the Switch 2 hardware and the appealing looks of both “Donkey Kong” and “Mario Kart,” it is undeniable that the pricing of the Switch 2 does not currently seem attractive for Nintendo’s typical audience.

Please take note that while the content of this article aligns with the author’s perspective, it does not automatically reflect or represent the collective viewpoint of GamingBolt as a whole. The opinions expressed in the piece are solely those of the individual author.

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2025-04-08 16:12