- Industry analysts weighed on the controversial prices of Nintendo Switch 2
- The prices of the equipment comply with expectations, but software is a concern
- Analysts say that American prices are only part of the problem
The pricing model of the Nintendo Switch 2 is now public knowledge following the Nintendo Direct on April 2, and there is a lot to unpack for hardware and software.
In short, the common consensus is that the retail price of the console – $ 449.99 / £ 395.99 or $ 499.99 / 429.99 £ for the Mario Kart World Bundle – is more or less in line with what people expected. This is the software side that seems to have generated the most concern.
We now know that Switch 2 launch games like Mario Kart World will cost an absurd limit $ 79.99 / £ 74.99, while Donkey Kong Bananza is registered in the current standard of the industry of $ 69.99 / £ 64.99. In both cases, this is a jump to a jump of most of the best Nintendo Switch games, and many analysts show a concern about the previous one that is established here.
IGN has since spoken to a number of industry trust analysts on the theme of Nintendo Switch 2 pricing.
There is a general agreement on the prices imposed by the Trump administration being a factor. Professor of Nyu Stern, Joost Van Dreunen, calls the prices of Nintendo a “act of strategic balancing”, adding that: “Nintendo seems to build in a buffer against these potential trade barriers while ensuring that they maintain their traditional positive margin”.
Ampère ‘Piers Harding-Rolls analysis seems to agree here, saying: “My opinion is that they probably had a price range for the American market at stake until the last minute due to uncertainty on import rates.”
The CEO of Kantan Games, Dr. Serkan Toto, also considers the competitor Sony as a factor: “Nintendo has probably taken into account the possible prices, the current inflationary climate in the world, and the $ 700 Sony dared to invoice for the PlayStation 5 Pro last year.”
Toto and other analysts, then, perhaps by suggesting a more cynical reason for the high price schemes of Nintendo for Nintendo Switch 2. Toto added that the price of $ 80 for Mario Kart World is “quite daring”.
He added: “The prices could play a role, but I think it’s much simpler: Nintendo invoices this price because they feel that they can and people will pay.”
Finally, Mat Piscatella de Circana suggests that Nintendo strongly targets its market for enthusiasts for the first year of sale. “Depending on what we see on the market, sales of high or easier income households will probably not be affected by this price,” he said.
“And, of course, we have the super passionate insensitive to prices that will do and pay everything you need to acquire Switch 2 at the launch. Consequently, due to the limited quantities that will be available during the launch year, I do not plan this price to hinder the year of sales volumes.”
Personally, I must wonder if the price of Nintendo software for Switch 2 will end in its second year, because Piscatella says: “The real test will come during the second year, because the offer will be likely to become more easily available, and the Addressable Market will be forced to expand. So, we will have to see what is happening in the next 9-12 months.”
