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 significant announcements is the pricing for Mario Kart World, which is expected to be a major title for the Switch 2. The game comes packaged with the console at a price of $50 for its digital version. However, as part of an over-the-top sale, it is available for $80, which is a $30 increase compared to the bundled price and $20 more than typical first-party games on current Switch hardware.
This signifies the onset of a trend, as demonstrated by Wal-Mart’s pre-order listings that include several games priced at $80, such as enhanced versions of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Party Jamboree for the Switch 2. 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. Also, 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. Much like the transition from PS4 to PS5 that Sony implemented, it’s expected that upgrading costs will fall between $10 to $20.
Nintendo intends to provide some of these upgrades free of charge for subscribers to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, which includes Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
