Nintendo did not formally announce the price of its Switch 2 during its showcase, but customers learned through rumors that it would cost $450. The real shock, however, was the $80 price tag for the launch title Mario Kart World. This is the highest price Nintendo has ever asked for a game, signaling a shift towards more expensive games in the future.
The Switch 2 bundled with Mario Kart costs $500, and while some may find this steep, the price of games for the console is also on the rise. Most first-party Switch 2 games will now cost more than in the past, with titles like Donkey Kong Bananza priced at $70 and others like Super Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby and The Forgotten Land at $80. This new standard of $80 games set by Nintendo may impact the gaming industry as a whole.
Analysts believe that Nintendo’s pricing choices are influencing other publishers, with predictions that games like Grand Theft Auto VI could reach a $100 price point in the future. Nintendo’s move to $80 games may set a new standard for game pricing, leading to more selective purchasing habits among gamers.
The timing of these price increases is unfortunate, as President Trump’s tariffs on tech manufacturing bases could further raise the price of the Switch 2. Despite potential challenges, Nintendo seems to have anticipated some of these issues with their pricing strategy.
The increase in game prices can be attributed to rising development costs for high-budget titles with advanced features and graphics. Nintendo has also made advancements with the Switch 2, offering 4K capabilities and more graphically intensive games. The shift towards higher resolution gaming may be a response to industry trends and rising costs.
Overall, Nintendo’s pricing strategy and push towards higher resolution gaming may reflect the challenges faced by the gaming industry in balancing costs and consumer expectations. ” Dengan mereka beralih ke era 4K seperti ini di mana game-game lebih besar, biaya sedikit lebih mahal untuk dibuat, dan memakan waktu lebih lama – dalam beberapa kasus mungkin bahkan jauh lebih lama,” Ellis berkata. “Apakah itu akan mengubah jenis game yang [Nintendo] akan bersedia untuk menginvestasikan sumber daya?”
Sementara itu Jason Schreier dari Bloomberg mencatat bahwa biaya pengembangan game yang semakin meningkat diperparah oleh manajemen yang tidak tahu apa-apa. Dia mengutip beberapa contoh di mana bos membiarkan pekerja berdiam diri tidak produktif selama berminggu-minggu sementara penerbit-penerbit bimbang dalam proyek-proyek. Itu pasti akan meningkatkan biaya.
Nintendo terus maju dengan apa yang selama ini menjadi titik tumpu industri. Tapi itu tidak membuatnya lebih mudah untuk diterima. Apakah Mario Kart World seharga $80? Kami tidak tahu, kami belum memainkannya sepenuhnya, namun. Tapi apakah ada game yang seharga $80, atau—sialan—$100? Satu-satunya hal yang tersisa bagi konsumen adalah dompet mereka, dan itulah yang harus berbicara.”