Switch 2 Console and Games' High Price Made Many Unhappy

Nintendo has formally revealed the console and game prices, as well as new system features of the eagerly awaited Switch 2. Just as we predicted, Switch 2 will cost $450 when it launches on June 5, 2025. This price is $50 more than many expected, as most early projections put it at around $400. This suggests that Nintendo is unlikely to reduce the price of the present Switch anytime soon.

Market experts believe that factors such as rising manufacturing expenses and enhanced hardware features could be to blame for this price rise. Apart from the steep price of Switch 2, Nintendo's upcoming games will be pricier as well. While the digital version will be approximately $10 less in other regions, including Europe, the physical version of Mario Kart World is expected to sell for $80 in the United States. This pricing approach could discourage retailers who rely on game sales and users from buying physical copies.

On the bright side, another eagerly awaited game, Donkey Kong Banana, will set you back $70, the same as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Though expected, this rise causes more concern that Nintendo's largest releases might start to cost $80. Though Nintendo has raised the price of the Switch 2, the new console does include several notable changes.

Switch 2 will have a larger 7.9-inch LCD screen that supports 4K resolution when docked and 1080p resolution when in touchscreen mode. A new Switch 2 feature called "GameChat" will allow users to interact with one another and share their screens. Pressing the "C" button on the Joy-Con controller will access this function. However, users must have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription to use this feature.

Nintendo has also said that owners of certain games now will qualify for free next-generation upgrades. In particular, only Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers will be able to play Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom on Switch 2 at no additional cost. There is currently no information on whether Kirby and Mario Party Jamboree or other games will be treated similarly.

Nintendo has launched Mario Kart World's official website, with hints of more information to follow. To give players a chance to test out the new system prior to its release, the company also intends to hold "Switch 2 Experience" events in Los Angeles, New York, London, and Paris. Nintendo fans are left wondering about these price increases. Are games that cost $80 the new norm? Does $450 seem excessive for the Switch 2?