A lot of discussion is being had about theNintendo Switch 2following its recent high-profile Direct presentation on April 2, during which the company finally gave fans a look at what the console has to offer. As part of the presentation, Nintendo provided information about some exciting exclusive releases, hardware specifications, and even a release date, with fans now expecting to get their hands on the next-generation Nintendo console on June 5.
While a lot of excitement is currently circulating around theNintendo Switch 2, there are also a lot of negative sentiments due to the price point of the console and its games. The revealed prices of Nintendo Switch 2 titles are much higher than some players were initially expecting, and the notorious lack of discounts that Nintendo games receive will only make this issue a longstanding and unavoidable one.
The Lofty Prices of the Nintendo Switch 2 Are Sadly Probably Here to Stay
The original Nintendo Switch was an extremely successful console for Nintendo, having sold over 150 million units worldwide. This makes it thethird-most successful console of all time(in terms of sales), and many fans were excited to finally hear about the improved capabilities of its successor. However, this next step for Nintendo gaming comes at a heavy price in more ways than one.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is reported to be ten times more powerful than its predecessor, which will open up a world of new possibilities for the console and should serve to minimize some of the performance issues the original Switch faced.
Information that was released after the Direct presentation revealed that theNintendo Switch 2 will cost $449.99when it launches on June 5, and the recently announced Switch 2 exclusiveMario Kart Worldwill cost $79.99.This price point for the console itself is $150 more than the original Nintendo Switchwas when it launched in 2017, and while that jump in price could be justified by the increased performance power of the Switch 2, its $80 games are already causing quite a stir.
While Nintendo may reserve the $80 price point for its biggest titles, and it is already confirmed that games likeDonkey Kong Bananzawill cost $69.99, it still sets a precedent that is likely to be followed with other games going forward. Other massive titles, likeGrand Theft Auto 6, are already rumored to be ushering in an era of$100 price tag games, and if Nintendo keeps up its $80 approach, then the purchase of just six Switch 2 titles would be more costly than the console itself.
Nintendo’s Aversion to Discounts Could Be a Big Problem For the Nintendo Switch 2
Fans have been extremely vocal about theirdisappointment in the Nintendo Switch 2’s pricing, and while the confirmed costs attached to the console and its software are a tough pill to swallow, they are unlikely to change any time soon. Nintendo has been cultivating a reputation for some time now over its refusal to discount hardware or releases even years after launch, and the company even scrapped its Gold Points discount system in late March.
It seems very likely that Nintendo will continue this unrelenting approach to itspricing for the Switch 2, meaning players will have extremely limited opportunities to get their hands on what the console has to offer at a discount. The vocal backlash that the recently revealed price structure has already caused shows that this approach might be a defining point of controversy for the Nintendo Switch 2, and all signs indicate that this will be a consistent sticking point for the console for the foreseeable future.
