The release of a new Nintendo console is pretty rare, and tends to create quite a buzz when announced. Nintendo has had many successes throughout the years with the Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, and most recently, the Nintendo Switch, and expectations are always extremely high when it comes to Nintendo’s projects.
The Switch was a particularly important era in Nintendo’s timeline. The console, which came out in 2017, was revolutionary for the gaming world, introducing elements to console gaming that others previously could only dream of. The Switch was particularly unique as it was the first gaming console that could be used both stationary and handheld.
Despite all the things that the Switch did right, there were many things that people felt it did wrong. With limited storage, less than stellar graphics, and relatively fragile controllers, the Switch was no stranger to criticism. One of the most prominent points of contention was the prices. The Switch launched at a base price of $299.99, and the major video games launched at $59.99. Though it was expensive, this sort of pricing was pretty standard for the industry. It got messy when considering the additional amounts of money one would need to spend to experience the console to its fullest potential. Along with the Switch, Nintendo launched an online subscription for $3.99 per month, which was required for online play and access to exclusive titles. The controllers were also ridiculously priced; A Pro Controller, used for docked playing, was priced at $69.99, and a replacement pair of Joy-Cons was $79.99. Both of these were a lot more expensive than controllers for other consoles at the time.
One would think that a company would take criticism to heart and use it to improve their products, and for a moment, it seemed like Nintendo did just that. On April 2, 2025, the company hosted a Nintendo Direct showcasing their upcoming console and upcoming game announcements, the Nintendo Switch 2, which is set to release on June 5, 2025. There was a lot of excitement surrounding the console while the live-stream was on air, as the system seemed to improve upon its predecessors a great amount. On top of the many technical improvements, the Direct featured a number of long anticipated games that will be added to the Switch 2 some time this year. These games included but were not limited to a new FromSoftware game titled “The DuskBloods”, “Mario Kart World”, and “Hollow Knight: Silksong”. The hype surrounding these announcements was palpable and could be seen across the world.
Reception of these announcements was very negative was not all good, however. One of the first things that viewers found strange was the fact that physical copies of Switch 2 games will not actually contain the game in the case. Instead, they will contain a game-key-card which will allow consumers to buy the game on the console’s EShop. Moreover, games from the first Switch will not be fully, if at all, be compatible with the Switch 2. To combat this for one of their most notable titles, Nintendo announced that they will be releasing an upgraded version of one of their Switch 1 games, “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom”, to the Switch 2. Unfortunately, it seems that even if somebody already owns the Switch 1 version of the game, they will still have to pay a substantial price for the upgraded version.
The issue at the forefront of everybody’s minds, however, was that prices were notably absent from the live-stream. Upon checking Nintendo’s website, audiences found that Nintendo’s greed truly knows no bounds. The console was set to be $449.99, with a “Mario Kart” bundle set to $499.99. This price alone immediately turned many off to buying the system, but this was not even the worst part. A number of major video games, such as “Mario Kart World”, will now have digital copies priced at $79.99, and physical ones at $89.99. This is far above the industry standard, as for years $60 has almost always been the maximum cost for even the most prestigious of games. As stated by Games Industry, some fear that other major gaming companies such as Sony or Microsoft may follow suit in the increase of video game prices, ultimately upping the industry standard. This sort of change would warp the gaming landscape forever. As such, the discovery of these egregious prices instantly killed the hype that people felt towards this new console.
Perhaps one of the most horrific possibilities concerning these prices is that they may be subject to increase in the United States. Pre-orders were originally set for Wednesday, April 9, 2025, however this date was pushed back indefinitely in the U.S. to account for President Trump’s tariffs. According to the BBC, Trump launched a 25% tariff on all exports from Japan, where Nintendo is based, on the same day that the Switch 2 direct took place. Concerns have arisen across the U.S. that the already egregious prices of the console and the physical copies of its games will increase in the country as a result of this. As of April 9, it is still unclear whether or not this will be the case. Despite the delay of preorders, the console’s release date of June 5, 2025 seems to have remained in-tact.
The future of the Switch 2 is uncertain, especially in the U.S., but the hole it will burn in customers’ wallets is unavoidable. Gaming has always been a luxury hobby, but it seems like it will be becoming more and more of one as the years go by.
