Nintendo Sparks Pricing Debate with $75 Mario Kart Launch on Switch 2
Nintendo made waves in the gaming world this week after finally revealing details about the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 — the sequel to one of the best-selling consoles of all time.
While excitement is building ahead of its June release, much of the buzz has shifted to something unexpected: the price tag of its launch titles. The console itself is priced in line with competitors like Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X, but its games? That’s another story.
Leading the charge is Mario Kart World, set to launch alongside the Switch 2 — with a jaw-dropping $75 (£74.99) price tag.
“It just makes gaming less accessible,” said Chloe Crossan, a gamer interviewed at a Glasgow game store. “It’s a lot to drop on just one game.”
Though she’s eager to try the console and new titles, the cost is a real concern: “Sure, you could say it’s a game four people can play together, but still — $75 is steep.”
Nintendo hasn’t confirmed whether all upcoming titles will carry this premium price, but pricing their flagship game this high marks a significant shift in their usual strategy — and may cause confusion, especially as digital and physical versions often come at different price points.
#1 Why Game Prices Are Climbing Fast
Experts Say $75 Games Might Become the Norm, Not the Exception
Industry insiders believe Mario Kart World’s $75 price tag may be the beginning of a wider trend in gaming — not a one-time shock.
Christopher Dring, editor-in-chief and co-founder of The Game Business, says we should brace for similar pricing on other blockbuster titles. “If there’s one game that could push the price envelope even further, it’s going to be GTA 6 when it gets a release date later this year,” he told the BBC.
Dring points to several factors driving these increases. “Modern games are more complex, take longer to build, and need larger development teams,” he explains. But beyond that, prices just haven’t kept pace with inflation.
“I used to pay £50 for an N64 game back in the early 2000s — adjusted for inflation, that’s closer to £80 today,” he said.
For years, publishers offset stagnant pricing with in-game microtransactions and the rise of digital downloads. But that model may have peaked. “That revenue stream is slowing, and now the industry is turning to outright price hikes.”
Not all gamers are surprised. Lewis Tocher, a longtime Nintendo fan who bought the original Switch on launch day, says he’ll still grab the new console once he can afford it — even with the steeper game prices. “Honestly, I’m surprised prices didn’t go up sooner, considering how expensive games are to make now.”
But retailers might not be as thrilled.
For the first time, Nintendo is charging different prices for digital and physical versions of the same title — and that could impact traditional game stores in a big way. Dring explains: “Around 80% of Switch games are still bought in a box. But for Xbox, that figure is flipped — 80% of new games are sold digitally.”
By nudging physical copies into a higher price bracket, Nintendo may be pushing more players to go digital — which boosts its profit margins, but cuts out middlemen retailers.
#2The Price of Failure
Nintendo is undoubtedly hoping to avoid a repeat of the rocky 3DS launch back in 2011. Following the record-breaking success of the DS, expectations were sky-high for its successor. However, the 3DS debuted with a price tag exceeding £200—more than double that of the original DS—leading to a wave of backlash from fans unwilling to pay such a steep price.
Within just six months, Nintendo was forced to cut the price nearly in half to stimulate demand. While the 3DS eventually gained momentum, its early missteps were hard to ignore.
Of course, the 3DS wasn't just a pricing misfire—it launched with a weak lineup of games. The Switch 2, in contrast, is coming out strong with Mario Kart World, the franchise’s first major entry in a decade. But still, Nintendo has a history of pricing blunders.
The N64 launched at £250 in 1997 but saw a dramatic drop to £99 within a year. Similarly, in 2002, Nintendo unexpectedly slashed £21 off the anticipated £150 price of the GameCube just two weeks before launch.
With the Switch 2, Nintendo is leaning into nostalgia, reviving beloved franchises like Mario and Donkey Kong. However, when it comes to pricing, the company will be hoping not to repeat the past.
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