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- The Nintendo Switch 2 created quite the controversy, but everyone seems to be fine with what Nintendo is charging for the console and games.
- Despite the current economic climate, the console immediately sold out as pre-orders went live.
- With nearly everything costing more, the cost of owning a Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to continue increasing over time.
The Nintendo Switch 2, quite literally, shook the gaming industry. In a move nobody saw coming, Nintendo boldly raised AAA game prices to $80 and made a console more expensive than both the Xbox Series S and vanilla PS5 Digital Edition.
One might think that this move would hinder the Nintendo Switch 2’s success, but this wouldn’t be the first time the vocal minority of gamers has been proven wrong. With the Nintendo Switch 2 projected to break console records, it has become clear that Nintendo was right to push the needle of game pricing.
In fact, the gaming giant has single-handedly proven that audiences are now, more than ever, willing to pay more for the hobby.
Why it matters: Nintendo’s recent antics set the stage for the industry to follow suit, much like PlayStation led the charge for $70 AAA releases.
The Current Economic Crisis
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the discussion is that the Nintendo Switch 2 is being released at the worst possible time. Government tariffs threaten to disrupt manufacturers, everyday commodities are more expensive than ever, and life for most is now much harder than it used to be.
Amid the chaos, gamers have still found it in themselves to pre-order the shiny new hardware. Putting aside the already high starting price of $450, the new hardware requires spending north of $500 for newer games and accessories.
Practically everyone is expected to buy Mario Kart World, and although it’s nice to see Nintendo packaging the game with the console for $500, this is still a significant amount of money when rent alone can consume a substantial portion of an average family’s budget today.
Millions across various industries have also lost their jobs in recent years, and wages have barely kept up with the rising inflation. At a time when gaming has essentially become a luxury, and budget options like the Xbox Series S are proving popular, I expected more people to skip the Nintendo Switch 2 on day one.
Vote With Your Wallet Or Don’t
Half the internet was hating yet the Switch 2 sold out in its first hours, hmmm
byu/CommercialLumpy2885 inNintendoSwitch2
As someone who has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous trends in this industry, including the infamous loot boxes, I consistently advocate for voting with one’s wallet. This is exactly what gamers appear to be doing, except that the pendulum is swinging in the opposite direction this time.
Following the Nintendo Switch 2’s reveal, many quickly raised their voices against the company’s practices. PlayStation fans, in particular, were outraged at the attempt to charge $80 for titles like Mario Kart World.
How dare Nintendo charge $80 for games that look worse than the average AAA PS4 title? Why does the company get a free pass compared to PlayStation and Xbox? These questions, along with more, were raised by many enthusiast gamers.
It seemed everyone was prepared to send a message, but the recently opened pre-orders tell a completely different tale. The Nintendo Switch 2 is sold out practically everywhere, and Nintendo itself has admitted that it underestimated the demand.
Many have even gone as far as paying several hundred dollars more to scalpers to obtain a pre-order. From Nintendo’s perspective, the current pricing is anything but a mistake, and the successful launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 will reaffirm this notion further.
The gaming giant has even dismissed doubts regarding the costs in recent interviews, making vague references to value and content.
Console Costs Add Up Over Time
It goes without saying, but console costs typically add up over time. The cost of entry is kept low on purpose, and with future game purchases, subscriptions, and various accessories, these costs can quickly spiral out of control.
Nintendo has already increased accessory pricing twice in some cases, so things will only change for the worse this generation. With a Pro controller that costs $85 and Joy-Cons priced at $94.99, I can only hope that these accessories come with added durability because nobody needs to be reminded how bad the original Joy-Cons were.
Although there is still hope that Nintendo’s pricing will result in some long-term impacts, the entire gaming industry has its eyes on the upcoming launch. The Nintendo Switch 2, being the company’s biggest console launch ever, can only mean one thing.
PlayStation, Xbox, and everyone else will soon follow suit and make their own moves. Perhaps Xbox will try to charge more for Game Pass, and PlayStation will attempt to push standard game pricing further using rising budgets and development time as justifications.
It’s hard to say for sure, but whatever these gaming giants decide to do, the consumer will ultimately suffer. However, it seems that most people don’t mind paying more every time a company demands it.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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