Nintendo Switch 2 launches with higher prices

Switch Launches
Switch Launches

The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch with a range of first-party titles, but fans are surprised by the new pricing structure. Most of these games, including re-releases, will cost either $70 or $80, a significant increase from the $60 standard for Switch 1 games. Mario Kart World, the flagship launch title, will be priced at $50 when purchased digitally as part of a Switch 2 bundle.

However, buying it separately will cost $80, which is $30 more than the bundled version and $20 more than typical first-party Switch games. Other re-releases, called “Switch 2 Editions,” for recent titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land, are also priced at $80 each, consistent with Mario Kart World. Not all games follow this trend, though.

Donkey Kong Bananza, set for a near-launch release on July 17, is priced at $69.99, closer to the $70 price point seen in PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S titles. Nintendo hasn’t explained the specific criteria for determining whether a game is priced at $70 or $80. Factors like more robust online play infrastructure, seen in Mario Kart World, and newly developed games like Donkey Kong Bananza, may justify the higher prices.

Price increases for Switch 2 games

Inflation since 2017 could also play a role, with a $60 game then potentially equating to $78 today based on general economic indices. Interestingly, not all releases follow this pricing trend.

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The Switch 2 release of Street Fighter 6 Year 1-2 Fighters Edition is set at $60, while Square Enix’s remastered version of Bravely Default will retail for $40, the same as its original 3DS release over a decade ago. These games incorporate a unique “key card” system that may help keep prices lower. There is speculation around the pricing of Switch 2 Edition upgrades for existing Switch games.

These upgrades are expected to range from $10 to $20 more than the original Switch versions. For titles available on both the original Switch and Switch 2, like Metroid Prime 4 and Pokémon Legends: Z-A, finding original Switch versions at a discount could offer cost savings compared to the newer editions. Nintendo has also introduced some incentives tied to its Nintendo Switch Online service.

Upgrade packs for games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will be free for subscribers of the $50-per-year Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, which also includes access to additional emulated consoles and various paid DLC offerings.

Maya Johnson

Maya is the editor-in-chief of KillerStartups.com. She provides value to early-stage entrepreneurs through content and her weekly newsletter. Reach her at maya@killerstartups.com

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