Summary
Fans have called out Nintendo’s controversial pricing strategy for theSwitch 2games, with some calling it a “cash grab.” During the latest Nintendo Direct, the company revealed a wealth of details about its next-gen console, theSwitch 2. However, rather than celebrating the announcement, some fans are more concerned about Nintendo’s approach to selling its next-gen games.
April’s Nintendo Direct was packed with exciting announcements, confirming dozens of anticipated and rumored games for the upcoming console, includingMario Kart World,Donkey Kong Bananza, andKirby Air Riders. Fans also got news on AAA third-party titles from renowned developers, such as FromSoftware’sThe Duskbloods. However, buried among these exciting reveals was a detail that has some fans worried about the future of Switch 2: the games' price tags. And now, they are roasting Nintendo for its extortionate pricing.
In a recent post, Redditor IQueliciuous mocked the Nintendo Switch 2’s cost structure with a meme titled “Hype levels went from 500% to 0%.” The meme highlights how fans, initially thrilled about the Nintendo Direct, were quickly disappointed upon learning that theSwitch 2 games might cost $90, some next-gen upgrades would require an additional fee, and even the console’s tech demo wouldn’t be free.
Fans Think Switch 2 Game Prices Are Outrageous
Nintendo has seemingly raised the base price of Switch 2 games to $80 for digital versions and $90 for physical copies, a significant jump from the $50 to $60 range of Switch 1 titles. The company has also confirmed that Switch 2 game upgrades will be sold separately, likely priced between $10 to $15, and that theWelcome Tourwill be sold as a standalone game, despite being merely a tech demo for the Nintendo Switch 2. While charging extra for next-gen upgrades has gradually become an industry standard, the additional costs for physical copies and paywalling console tutorials have been criticized by potential customers as “outrageous.”
Fans should note that Nintendo has yet to confirm a price hike for all the Switch 2 titles. While pricing for some first-party games, such asMario Kart WorldandDonkey Kong Bananza, has been revealed, it remains unclear whether this will become the standard or if, likeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s price increase, there will be a case-by-case adjustment. Regardless, thousands of fans have expressed frustration over these changes, with some even calling for a global boycott. Supporters of the boycott point to the Nintendo 3DS launch controversy, where disappointing initial sales forced the company to slash the console’s price from $250 to $170—a 32% reduction.
