Switch 2 Prices Set Worrying Precedent For the Future of Gaming

Last week Nintendo dropped their Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, which announced many of the new games releasing alongside the hotly-anticipated console. While the Direct itself was met with overwhelming positive reception (if you haven’t already, please see the Moo Moo Meadows cow becoming a playable character in Mario Kart), much of this excitement was dampened by the subsequent reveal of the Switch 2’s price. 

Just look at him go!

The Switch 2 has been announced to be $449 USD, marking a drastic jump from its predecessor’s price of $299.99 USD upon release. In Canada, the Switch 2 will be $629.99 CAD, jumping up from the Switch 1’s $399.99 CAD. 

In addition to the price of the console itself, the price of new games exclusive to the Switch 2 such as the new Mario Kart World has also caused widespread outcry. The game is priced at $80 USD, with a bundle packaging the game with the Switch 2 set at $499.99 USD. In Canada, the game is expected to be somewhere in the $100-115 CAD range, with the bundle at $699.99 CAD. On the original Switch, Nintendo franchise games were typically priced at $60 USD ($79.99 CAD), marking a $20 USD jump between console generation, as well as the highest price Nintendo’s ever set for one of its games since Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s $70 USD price tag from 2023.

Mario Kart World is the first new entry to the Mario Kart series in 9 years since Mario Kart 8 was released for the Wii U in 2014 and its announcement has been met with widely positive reception, especially given the breadth of new gameplay features. In response to fan backlash about the pricing of the game, Nintendo of America’s Vice President of Product and Player Experience Bill Trinen has justified the $80 USD price tag by emphasizing the value of the game experience, stating that fans will “find this to be probably the richest Mario Kart experience they’ve ever had.” 

As someone who very begrudgingly paid the $90 CAD for TOTK on its release date, I take part in the shared concern among many over rising costs in the video game industry. While I don’t doubt that the new Mario Kart World will provide an unparalleled gameplay experience in comparison to Mario Kart 8, I don’t necessarily believe that this would justify a potential price point of over $100 CAD, especially since the increased price seems more to be simply because Nintendo can, rather than due to any pragmatic reasons such as rising costs. These new price announcements have me (and many of my friends) reconsidering whether the Switch 2 is really worth the buy. 

With Nintendo raising prices, the fear is that the rest of the industry will follow suit. There’s speculation online that the price of Grand Theft Auto VI, another hotly-anticipated game, could exceed even $100 USD. This is not even taking into account the potential impact of Trump’s tariffs, which have already delayed pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the US and Canada.

As consumers are faced with mounting economic uncertainty and increased costs across the board, this sets a worrying precedent for the costs of video games and the accessibility of gaming in the future.