Get ready for Nintendo releasing their much-anticipated Switch 2 console, with the release of Mario Kart World. The new edition retails for £74.99. It’s the first major Mario Kart title in 10 years and represents a major departure for Nintendo’s pricing strategy.
For Nintendo, the Switch 2 is set up as a direct sequel to the third-best selling console of all-time, the original Nintendo Switch. In the console’s first month, fans responded with some discontent to the announcement that the console would cost more than £200. The steep price of the console, and of its games, has raised the ire of veteran Nintendo fans.
Nintendo has revived classic characters like Mario and Donkey Kong for the Switch 2, appealing to both new players and nostalgic fans. This revival, which is very much welcome and needed, certainly has an expensive price tag that caused raised eyebrows. The last generation of consoles—Commodore 64/Nintendo – 64 £250, at launch in 1997. Yet, in an astonishingly short period of time, the price dropped to £99. This history leads us to wonder if the Switch 2 will indeed take a similar trajectory.
The justification of pricing for titles on the Switch 2 varies greatly depending on if it’s a physical copy or purchased digitally. Historically, about 80% of Nintendo Switch game sales have been in that standard physical box format. At the same time, digital sales are climbing fast. By comparison, nearly 80% of new game sales for Xbox are digital.
Mr. Christopher Dring, an industry analyst, noted the implications of this shift: “By charging more for the physical copy it’s going to encourage people to download more, which will be good for Nintendo’s bottom line.” This significant shift in strategy indicates a smart play by Nintendo to stay ahead of changing consumer tastes.
From inflation to crunch time, fans have expressed their worries over the increasing price of admission to the gaming space. Chloe Crossan commented on the affordability issue, stating, “It makes it inaccessible, it’s a lot to drop on one game.” That sentiment speaks to a larger fear among consumers about the costs associated with emerging gaming tech.
The price escalation is not just a Nintendo thing. Mr. Tring highlighted how prices have evolved over time: “I bought N64 games for £50 in the turn of the century and that’s £80 today.” He acknowledged that “that growth has started to slow, so they’re now relying on price increases” as a means to sustain profits.
Besides the pricing changes, consumers are more mindful of the quality of games and how long they will be able to play the game before they spend their money. Kathryn Brown expressed her caution: “If it gets good reviews, and I wait until people have bought it first, then we’ll think about it.” This risk-averse attitude is indicative of a larger movement within the gaming community focused on cost and maximizing value.
As Nintendo prepares for the launch of Switch 2 and Mario Kart World, industry experts predict that other major titles may follow suit in adjusting their prices. Dring suggested that upcoming releases such as GTA 6 could see increased pricing. “I think if you’re going to see a game that’s going to be able to charge more, look out for when GTA 6 gets a release date later in the year.”
With the Switch 2’s launch and its related price approach, Nintendo does indeed stand at a critical crossroads. Consumers are housing some of these costs in the form of consoles and games. The studio has to meet these challenges and more, all while continuing to please its very passionate fan base.