In the hour long Youtube stream covering the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, we got exclusive details on certain hardware features, including joycon and audio upgrades.
The joycons, which, during certain games, allows player to turn their left or right joycon on its side to use like a mouse, enhancing gameplay and increasing aim.
Another feature is the audio improvement. Players can adjust the audio balance of their speakers, changing the treble, mid and bass. This works even in handheld mode, not just with headphones.
In terms of software, the definition has increased from 720 to 1080, and the frames per second has gone up to 120, from the original Switch’s 60.
Now, the Nintendo Switch 2 was hyped from its teaser trailer, and throughout the announcements as more features were unveiled, this continued. But, there was one thing in particular that wasn’t discussed in any of the videos or news– the price. It was held secret for so long, it was only just released a week ago in the hour long Nintendo Direct. This price wasn’t expected, for sure. Fans speculated somewhere in the $300 range, and I suspected $500.
The actual price, released days ago, is $450.
An incredible price mark up from the original, priced at $299.
The price of the console isn’t that outlandish, when you consider its competition and the newly enforced tariffs. The price can be forgiven, it’s fine, that’s just how it is.
But.
The price of the games throw many customers in the opposite direction.
The launch game for the Switch’s predecessor is Mario Kart World, which is the next in the series of the Mario Kart games. While the graphics don’t differ much from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the actual gameplay receives an upgrade.
For example, depending on the time of day and weather, the atmosphere alters to fit the player’s location. If it is morning and raining, it will be too in-game. Also, while there are still four tracks the players will go through to win a grand prix, the actual tracks lead into one another, creating a seamless flow from track to track we have only experienced in small tidbits, but Nintendo fully committed to it in this game. And if the player is more cosmetic focused, there’s 16 more players than in the standard 44 in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with characters like Luigi and Princess Peach gaining multiple new outfits.
Now let’s discuss a group pricing.
If you were to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World, and the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, which is a tutorial for all the new features the players will be able to download, the total would be $536. For one game, the only console that allows you to play the game, and a tutorial that costs $6.12.
Nintendo put a price tag on a tutorial.
At least the tutorial is cheap, it’s bearable, Sure.
I still haven’t mentioned how much the Mario Kart game is.
Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System cost $25, Super Mario 64 on the DS cost $60, and Mario Kart World on the Switch 2, costs $80, which will arguably be the set price for all future video games with Nintendo making this trend.
This means if you were to own five Nintendo Switch 2 games, you’d have spent $400. That’s not including the console by the way.
Fans were more than just upset by this. They flooded the comments of Nintendo’s latest videos in protest, stating no family could afford these new pricings, despite being a company that claims to target family audiences.
Unfortunately, again, I have more to inform you about.
There’s a $10 price hike if you want a physical copy of your games. So, let’s say you own five physical copies of Switch 2 games. Now you’re at $450.
Alright! That puts your total at $100 dollars short of a thousand if you own the console and five physical games.
So let me reiterate,
Don’t buy the Nintendo Switch 2. At least, for a few months, if you can hold yourself back.
Let’s look back at history.
In 2011, the Nintendo 3DS was marketed at $250, which was thrown like an anime character through fifteen buildings.
People were not happy, and it’s first few months it made little sales. In an embarrassing defeat, Nintendo quietly lowered the price to $170 five months later.
So with that said, if you do give in, and spend over $600, you’d have suckered yourself, when in a few months the price would have dropped.
That Mario Kart game looks good, but is it $90 dollars good?
Save your money, boycott Nintendo, and let’s get the Switch 2 games back to a reasonable price.