It Doesn’t Matter How Much Switch 2 and its Games Cost
I’ve been seeing the notion that Nintendo “is crazy” for charging $80 for Mario Kart World and possibly $90 for physical Switch 2 games. I’ve seen countless comments online claiming that the “Switch 2 will bomb because of its prices”.
And that was before yesterdays depressingly obnoxious news that Switch 2 preorders have been delayed thanks to President Trumps tariffs. So we’re most likely looking at a $600 console now. While I do think it’s a bit much to ask for a piece of tech that’s seemingly on par or weaker than 2023’s Steam Deck, that’s not the point I’m trying to make here. People seem to forget how much of a victory the Switch was and is for Nintendo. The Wii U was an absolute tragedy in terms of sales. If the Switch sold comparably to the Wii U, we’d probably be seeing Mario and Kirby on the PS5 right now. But instead, the Switch is looking very likely to overcome the PlayStation 2 as the best selling home video game console of all time.
Nintendo has always been called the “Disney of video games”, but it never seemed to fully embrace that identity. But with the wildly successful Mario movie a few years ago, and theme parks in Universal Studios- it’s pretty clear whats happening. Nintendo doesn’t want Nintendo gamers. They want Nintendo families. They don’t want to sell you one copy of Donkey Kong Bananaza. They want to sell you two or three copies on your two or three Switch 2’s for you, your significant other, and your children. I know they’ve added the ability to share digital games, but I think the point still stands overall. They have boldly claimed the $80 video game price point. Just like how they boldly asked for $70 for Tears of the Kingdom- a game that ran like shit and looked identical to its Wii U older brother. Remember when people claimed they would boycott Tears of the Kingdom because of its price point? And remember the result?
It sold 10 million copies in three days.
I know I probably sound like a corporate apologist for Nintendo, but I’m just being blunt. People can’t control themselves when it comes to entertainment. They can’t control themselves when it comes to FOMO. The PlayStation 5 launched in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic where millions of people were on unemployment. And guess what happened? It was sold out for years! As the reality of world politics and economics become more and more brutal, people like myself seek more escapism. Maybe it’s unhealthy, but it’s just the truth. I, for example, and eagerly anticipating the Switch 2. It’s been almost eight years since the first Switch launched and I can’t wait to buy the successor.
And it’s not just me.
The Switch 2 is going to sell millions of units and Mario Kart World will be the best selling Mario Kart game after a few years on the market. Is it a bold proclamation? Yes. Do I feel assured? Absolutely. People have always had a chip on their shoulder with Nintendo. But we all know damn well that Take-Two is smiling right now and ready to charge $90 or $100 dollars for GTA VI. Are the same people claiming the Switch 2 will bomb saying that about GTA VI? Of course not! Oh the irony…
