After months of speculation, the Nintendo Switch 2 was fully revealed to us during the latest Nintendo Direct. Games, capacity, release date... You'll find everything in this article. As you read through it, you'll also discover the price of the console and games, and we're warning you in advance, you're not going to like it. More than the cost of the console, it's the cost of the games that's causing a stir. With Mario Kart World at 90 euros, this raises many questions about Nintendo's current strategy, but especially about the future of the video game industry.
Nintendo Switch 2: a Nintendo Direct that hurts the wallet
All Nintendo fans and video game fans in general were eagerly awaiting the Nintendo Direct dedicated to the Switch 2. The one-hour event dazzled everyone. Big N presented no less than 31 games, which is huge. Added to this are the GameCube games that will be playable on the console, something that was highly anticipated by fans, as well as new online features. However, from wonder, we quickly moved to disillusionment when we saw the prices.
The Nintendo Direct aftermath was worthy of a complicated awakening after a drunken evening. Nintendo has revealed the prices of its console and accessories, and it stings. To get your hands on the new Big N console, you'll have to pay €469.99 for the standard version, and €509.99 for the one with Mario Kart World in digital version. With the Nintendo Switch Pro 2 controller at 89.99 euros, the GameCube controller at 69.99 euros, and the camera for the new Game Chat feature at 69.99 euros, we have a well-stocked basket. This is even more so with the price of the games. Donkey Kong Bananza set the bar low with its 79.99 euros, while Mario Kart World set the bar high with its 89.99 euros for the physical format. The prices are exorbitant, too much even for Nintendo.
Nintendo is moving away from its family side
Nintendo has had the label of a family company for several years. This indicates that its video game products are more affordable than the competition. With the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 games, we are clearly moving away from this image. Big N is returning to a price range not seen since the GameCube. To buy Luigi's Mansion in 2002, you had to pay 60 euros, which translates to around 87 euros in 2025 with inflation. Over time, instead of increasing the price like the competition, Nintendo stayed at 60 euros, and this continued until the Switch, with some titles even being cheaper. The announcement of the Switch 2 completely changed that.
Thanks to Donkey Kong Bananza, we see that a standard digital game will cost 69.99 euros and a physical one 79.99 euros. For Mario Kart World, the additional €10 in both cases is still not justified, although we can imagine that it will apply to bigger titles. We can see that Nintendo is now basing itself on market prices, and even going further. Today, a new PS5 game costs €69.99 physically and €79.99 digitally, and with that alone, we can see that there is a big problem. With the cost of living always rising, what family would spend that much on their children? Nintendo is certainly not the only one to blame, but if there was one company that should not go down this route, it was them.
Is the price of Nintendo Switch 2 games justified?
If game prices are increasing, it's because their cost is too. We are now talking about hundreds of millions of euros for some titles. This is particularly the case for Nintendo with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which cost $180 million, almost as much as God of War: Ragnarok, and which had a price tag that was a bit higher than average. However, there aren't always Tears of the Kingdoms. This raises the question of how to justify the price in relation to its power.
The Switch 2 clearly surpasses the capabilities of its big sister, but remains equivalent to that of a PS4. This is good news for third-party publishers who can properly release their games, but it is very bad for players. The games are too expensive for the power of the console, especially since the Switch 2 does not even have an OLED screen to enjoy them in optimal conditions. This price increase is very problematic and could unfortunately give ideas to the competition.
The impact of Nintendo Switch 2 game prices on the industry
Nintendo has opened Pandora's box. We have talked a lot about the possibility of seeing a GTA 6 at 100 euros. Well, with a Mario Kart World at 90 euros, nothing is stopping Rockstar from doing it, or even going further. This is very worrying for the future of video games, which will become, even more than today, a leisure activity for the wealthy. This future is even bleaker for the physical format.
With its Switch 2, Nintendo has chosen to make physical format games more expensive than digital ones, thus doing the opposite of the competition. If we add to this the fact that game boxes are sold without a cartridge, we understand where the company and the industry in general are heading. By killing the physical format, the second-hand market will disappear. Already, Switch games were rarely second-hand, Nintendo is adding a nail in the coffin here. Although this is an alarming observation for the industry, we inform you that you will be able to find Switch 2 games at more affordable prices in some stores. Therefore, if you plan to buy the console, we strongly advise you to do so to avoid breaking the bank.
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