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With the Nintendo Switch 2 dropping this June, excitement is high. But so are the prices. And the confusion. And maybe your blood pressure.
Shall we break it down?
So, What Exactly Are We Paying For?
Nintendo announced that new Switch 2 games will retail for $79.99 digitally, and $89.99 if you want a "physical" copy, which, plot twist, isn't actually physical. You get a box. Inside the box is a code. That’s it.
You are now the proud owner of a plastic rectangle and a vibe.
To add context (and salt), that’s a $20 jump from traditional pricing, and a $10 hike from the current-gen standard of $70. If you think that number will stay put, think again: these prices were announced before U.S. tariffs kicked in. So there might be more inflation on the horizon, and we’re not talking about Wiggler power-ups.
The Pre-Order Hunger Games
Nintendo made it extra spicy by gating early pre-orders behind an elite club:
Translation: to even qualify for a pre-order, you had to prove you’re a loyal Nintendo stan willing to trade personal data for Mario access.
Fans rushed the gates anyway, and pre-orders vanished faster than a Joy-Con in a couch cushion.
Accessories, Add-Ons, and Other Wallet Vampires
Let’s say you want to play Mario Kart with a friend. You’ll need:
Also, the Switch 2 comes with 256GB of storage, which is cute until you realise some titles are already approaching 50 GB+ installs. So yes, you’ll need a fancy microSD Express card, which costs more and might not work with older gear.
Gaming has never been cheaper. Said no one. Ever.
Community Sentiment: Bruh.
Gamers aren’t thrilled. Some choice quotes:
“Don’t buy the damn games and watch how fast they change the price.
“Nintendo needs to be humbled again.”
“I was so hyped... until I saw the price to jump in: $450 for the console, $80 launch title, and paying extra to upgrade games I already own. Add in storage, controllers, and online fees? I’m broke before I even hit start.”
Others are comparing this to the PS3 launch disaster: premium pricing, low perceived value, and the hope that someone in accounting eventually panics.
But Here’s the Wild Part
It’s working.
The pre-orders? Gone. The hype? Real. Nintendo might be testing the waters, but the water’s warm and full of wallets.
This matters because if Nintendo pulls this off, other publishers are absolutely going to follow suit. Today, it’s $90 for a game box with a code. Tomorrow? $100 for early access to the patch notes.
Final Thoughts
Nintendo has always been a little weird. But this is bold, even for them. It feels like the start of something bigger, not just for the company, but for the entire industry.
Will gamers adapt? Will prices normalise? Will someone, somewhere, eventually sell a physical game that actually has a game inside it?
Unclear.
But until then: keep your wallets close, your microSD cards closer, and maybe... wait a week before pre-ordering anything with a code in a box.
Let’s-a hope for the best.
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