Following its latest Switch 2 console announcement, Nintendo has revealed details about the price of games on the new system, giving some indication of the price gamers will pay for first-party titles, both new and old releases.
One of the key reveals is Mario Kart World pricing, the Switch seller for Switch 2. The game is bundled with the console for $50 in its digital form, but as an over-the-top sale, it sells for $80, a $30 premium from the bundle and $20 above normal first-party titles on current Switch hardware. This is the beginning of a trend, as Wal-Mart pre-order listings show several games at $80, including improved editions of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Party Jamboree, both of which are part of the Switch 2 lineup.
Though $80 titles will be the new standard, not all Switch 2 titles will cost that much. For example, Donkey Kong Bananza, releasing on July 17, is $69.99, a classic $70 compared to the re-releases that are $80. And, too, the Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition is $70, staying in step with the usual pattern for games on new-gen consoles.
The reasons for these price hikes are, in part, inflation and the potential for better graphics and gameplay complexity with the new hardware. The Switch 2 should have more advanced and powerful graphics, which are more costly to manufacture. The other reason is the new Game-Key Card format used in physical releases. These cards contain no actual game information but act as keys for downloading the games onto the system, potentially reducing manufacturing expenses. But as of yet, there is no indication whether or not these cost savings will translate to the consumer price.
One of the large questions is the price of Switch 2 Edition upgrades to games that already have gamers in their possession on the original Switch. Similar to Sony’s setup with PS4 to PS5 upgrades, the cost of such upgrades will likely be in the range of $10 to $20.
Nintendo also plans on offering some of these upgrades free of charge for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers, like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
