Nintendo’s announcement of the highly anticipated Switch 2 has sparked quite a discussion, with many fans urging the company to “lower the price” of the upcoming console and its games, following the recent Nintendo Switch 2 updates. In response to this feedback, Nintendo executives have addressed the pricing for the forthcoming Switch 2 games, reassuring fans that the new title, Mario Kart World, will justify its price of $80.
In the U.S., the standalone Switch 2 will retail for $450, with its games also being on the pricier side. As noted, Mario Kart World will be available for $80, while the newly announced 3D game, Donkey Kong Bananza, will cost $70. According to an interview with IGN, Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America’s vice president of product and player experience, stated, “whenever we look at a given game, we just look at what is the experience, and what’s the content, and what’s the value?”
Specifically mentioning Mario Kart World, Trinen emphasized, “Honestly, this is a game that is so big and so vast and you will find so many little things in it to discover. And there’s still some other secrets remaining that I think as people end up buying and playing the game, they’re going to find this to be probably the richest Mario Kart experience they’ve ever had.”
Discussing the evaluation of game value further, Trinen referenced the Switch 2 Edition upgrades for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, confirming that there will be a $10 upgrade fee for players who own the original titles, unless they are Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers, granting them access to these upgrades at no extra cost. “I think overall, our general approach is really just focus on what’s the content, what’s the value, and what’s an appropriate price based on that,” he reiterated.
In a different interview with The Washington Post, Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America president, commented on Donkey Kong Bananza and its $70 price point while elaborating on Nintendo’s strategy concerning “variable pricing.” He further explained the rationale behind these pricing decisions.
“We’ll look at each game, really consider the development that has gone into the game, the breadth and depth of the gameplay, if you will, the durability over time, and the repeatability of gameplay experiences,” he noted. “Those are all factors, and there are many more to consider when determining the right price point for a game. So I think you can expect to see variable pricing, and we haven’t established a benchmark.”
To clarify, not every Switch 2 title is expected to be priced at $80. Furthermore, despite concerns among gamers about the potential $100 price tag for GTA 6 upon its release later this year, Bowser believes that Nintendo’s adjustments in game pricing are “less about aligning with industry trends,” but rather “about Nintendo deciding what is best for its products and how to price them effectively.” He highlighted that there has historically been variation in Switch game prices, noting that while most first-party titles are typically priced around $60, Tears of the Kingdom was priced at $70, indicating that this pricing strategy is not a new approach.
We’ll need to observe how the recent pricing strategies impact the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders, which are anticipated to open this week but have faced postponements in the United States due to new tariffs.
Nintendo suggests that there is additional content in the new free roam mode of Mario Kart World that has yet to be revealed, and many fans are hoping for the return of a beloved feature from the DS version.