Nintendo defends price of Switch 2 by suggesting you buy the original instead
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Following the big announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2, including its release date (June 5th), pricing, and specs, there have been a few hurdles to overcome. Many people weren’t so happy with the increased price point compared to the original Switch, especially with the revelation that some games could cost as much as $90 for a physical copy, or $80 for a digital download.
The subject of price has been put under the spotlight, especially now that US tariffs have forced pre-orders of the Switch 2 to be pulled in the United States. This leaves fans in the dark, wondering whether the price will increase as a result. This is yet to be determined; the launch price was initially announced as $449.99 (or $499.99 when bundled with Mario Kart World).
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Nintendo of America president says the price is “appropriate”
Speaking with CBC Canada, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser discussed the price of the Nintendo Switch 2. The company has generally shied away from tackling the negative reaction, but Bowser comments that the price is “appropriate for the value of the machine and the gameplay experience overall”.
The Switch 2 comes with a range of upgrades over the original, including a 1080p 120Hz handheld screen and up to 4K support while docked. Nvidia, which developed a custom chip for the console, claims that the Switch 2 offers “10x the graphics performance“.
Bowser also touched on the fact that some people may not be able to afford the newest Nintendo console.
“We recognize there are some people that may not be able to afford [the Switch 2’s] price point. That’s why we wanted to make the other Switch platforms available, so [people] still have an opportunity to come into our gaming universe, be a part of these characters in these worlds, and see value, if you will, in whatever rung of the platform they come in.”
Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America president, via CBC Canada
His comments suggest that the Switch 1 isn’t going anywhere, though we’re not certain whether Nintendo will continue to sell it on its official storefront by the time the sequel comes out. In any case, Bowser suggests that people “still have an opportunity” to become a Nintendo gamer by simply buying the original, cheaper console. The cheapest model right now is the Switch Lite.
Obviously, this doesn’t account for the many people who already own a Switch, considering it is one of the best-selling game consoles of all time (and the highest that is still on the market). But on that note, we expect to see many current Switch owners selling their console to fund an upgrade, leaving those with a tighter budget to opt for the used market. Importantly, Switch 2 offers backward compatibility, though there remains a list of games that aren’t compatible yet.
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