Nintendo Switch 2 Looks Amazing, But The Price Is Too Big To Justify Purchasing
- Stephen Miller
- 46 minutes ago
- 8 min read
Back in January, we got our first look at Nintendo's next generation system the Switch 2 and my reaction was of indifference thanks to the exorbitant amount of leaked images of the console. However, I was happy with what was shown and I said that I may do a follow up when Nintendo did the full reveal on April 2nd. We are now there and there are a lot of things that I liked about what I saw. I loved the games that were presented and what how the system is different from the original Switch and the system is releasing June 5th, 2025. BUT, the price is a huge pill to swallow that not many people are too thrilled about. First, we have to look at what was presented starting with the games.
This presentation had a large amount of games revealed for the system. There were 7 new titles, 6 Switch 2 Edition games, and 44 third party games. There was a lot packed into this presentation. This is the list of games that are coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 starting with the exclusives.
Switch 2 Exclusive:
Mario Kart World - June 5th, 2025
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour - June 5th, 2025
Drag x Drive - Summer 2025
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment - 2025
The Duskbloods - 2026
Kirby Air Riders - 2025
Donkey Kong Bananza - July 15th, 2025
Next are the Switch 2 Editions. These are games that are going to be available for both the original Switch and the Switch 2. You can take the game from the original Switch and purchase an upgrade pack and that upgrade pack will enhance the game's visuals to take advantage of the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2. Some may even come with extra content or an additional game mode.
Switch 2 Editions:
Metroid Prime 4 Beyond - 2025
Pokemon Legends Z-A - 2025
Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV - July 24, 2025
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - June 5th, 2025
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - June 5th, 2025
Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World - August 28th, 2025
Here are other titles that are coming to the Switch 2. These are third-party titles that are already released on other platforms, but are taking advantage of the Switch 2 hardware.
Third-Party Games:
Sid Meier's Civilization 7
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Hogwarts Legacy
Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition
Deltarune
Fortnite
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition
Hades II
Borderlands 4
Split Fiction
Street Fight 6
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4
Enter the Gungeon 2
Yakuza 0 Director's Cut
HITMAN World of Assassination - Signature Edition
Project 007
Star Wars Outlaws
Survival Kids
Starseeker
Hollow Knight Silksong
Tamagotchi Plaza
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
Shadow Labyrinth
ReAnimal
Madden NFL 2K
NBA 2K
WWE 2K
Witchbrook
Fast Fusion
Professor Layton & The New World of Steam
Two Point Museum
No Sleep For Kaname Date
Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
Human Fall Flat 2
Wild Hearts S
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Goodnight Universe
Nobunaga's Ambition Awakening Complete Edition
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
Lastly, there will be more content coming to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack and that is GameCube is finally coming to the service. It will be available on launch day of the Switch 2 starting with Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soul Caliber 2. There are more games that will be coming to the service at later dates. For now, those are the three that will be available on day 1.
Of course between each segment of the games, we see the functionality of the Switch 2 hardware. Nintendo presents the voice chat function showing the system having a built-in microphone, you can invite other people to play a game even if the person doesn't have the game themselves, you can screen share, and a camera accessory that allows your friends to see your reactions while playing a game. They showed off the joy-con controllers and how they connect to the Switch 2 with magnets and even has mouse functions like a computer mouse. As for graphics, Nintendo showed that you can play your games up to 1080p/4K in docked mode depending on your TV and frame rates are scaled up to 120 fps allowing smoother game play.
After everything that was presented, I was sold on the system. Yet, there was one part of the presentation that Nintendo skipped right over and that is the price. Usually when Nintendo presents a new system with all of these games they would announce the retail price for the systems and games. They did not do that, this time, and it had everyone questioning why. After a little bit of digging after the Direct had ended everyone realized why Nintendo didn't talk about the price.
Nintendo Switch 2 - $449.99
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle - $499.99
So for a long time, everyone was speculating this system was going to be around the $400-$500 range. It is still pricey, but considering the hardware put into this system people do understand that aspect. Especially when you look at the price for Xbox Series X/S and the PlayStation 5 those are ranging between $500 - $800. So the Nintendo Switch 2 is still on the cheaper end, but the price is right at the edge of those price ranges for Xbox and PS5. However, when we look at the listings in Japan they have a different listing.
Nintendo Switch 2 Japanese-Language Only - $343.06
Nintendo Switch 2 Multi-Language System - $480.33
According to this listing, a system that is region locked is cheaper that is region free. So let's say there is an English only version of the system would the system be cheaper because it is in English? Why can't the regular Nintendo Switch 2 be the same price as the Japanese Only console? Why can't there be a region locked game system for all countries so it is more affordable if language makes the system cheaper? It is just confusing how there is a cheaper option and it is only region-locked to one country. The games are a similar issue with price.
Donkey Kong Bananza - $69.99
Mario Kart World - $79.99
Kirby and the Forgotten Lands + Star-Crossed Worlds - $79.99
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - $69.99
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - $79.99
Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV - $79.99
When The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was released two years ago, there was a lot of talk about the game's $70 price tag and worried that this could become the new normal. Nintendo, at the time, made a statement that this was only this one time and it really depended on the size of the game. Here we are now and we are seeing $70-$80 for just one game and all of that hype Nintendo built with that Switch 2 presentation went completely down the drain.
Industry analysts and insiders have warned that the age of $70 games was an inevitability. Grand Theft Auto VI by Rockstar Games is already being talked to release with a $100 price tag. So this debate of games going over the $60 standard has been going on for a long time. However, we are just getting into that transition of that $70 standard and Nintendo just puts out the $80 price tag right on the Mario Kart World page and it has caused quite an upset.
I will be honest, I don't know how many people can afford a $70-$80 game and I certainly can't afford a game like that. If I buy a game it would have to be a game that I really want to play and this is true in everyone's case. But do the games look like they can be $70-80?
I honestly think the $60-$70 price is more reasonable. Yes, the games look good, the worlds in them looks larger, you can do more stuff here, but I look at other games like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey. Those games did the same thing. They did the open sandbox style of adventuring through the game and the games looked really nice even now and those games were $60. Even other games outside of Nintendo like Final Fantasy VII Remake, Cyberpunk 2077, and Elden Ring were all $60 when they were originally released a few years ago and they were bigger sized games. Are those games going to be $70-$80 on the Switch 2 now? What about Metroid Prime 4 Beyond and Pokemon Legends Z-A? Are those going to be $70 or $80?
What about Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour? This game is not really a game. It is a tech-demo that just explains how the Switch 2 works along with some mini-games and yet it is not being bundled with the Switch 2 like Nintendo Land and Wii Sports were bundled with the Wii and Wii U. It is a stand-alone release, which does not make any sense. Yet, there is a possibility that game could be $70.
After everything that was shown, something from Nintendo has to give. I think the $70 price tag would be easier to handle if there was a cheaper option for the Switch 2 system whether that means a region-locked version that is in English only or a Switch 2 Lite that is only a handheld device. That $80, however, is a deal breaker. I cannot see many people looking at this and thinking this is okay. People are so upset that during the Nintendo Treehouse Live presentation the chat room was spammed by angry consumers demanding Nintendo to drop the price of the games.
People play games to relax and to be entertained. It is no different from watching a movie. Nintendo was looked upon as the Disney of video games. They were family friendly, consumer friendly, they bring the fun and joy to families in many households with many characters that those families love. The children that grew up with Mario in the 80's, 90's, and early 2000's are now grown up and sharing those same experiences with their own children.
Consumers are not blind when they see something is wrong with a company that they are loyal to. Nintendo honestly thinks we will blindly accept the prices for the console and games. Meanwhile, consumers are looking at their wallets and bank accounts and debating if the Switch 2 is really worth spending their hard earned paychecks over. Right now, the consensus of those people are saying, "No, this really is not worth it."
It will be interesting to see what Nintendo does because I can assure you that Nintendo has expected this backlash to happen, which is why they didn't mention the price during the Nintendo Direct. I think they will wait and see what the outcome looks like after the Switch 2 launches. People are forecasting another 3DS type launch. When the handheld first released nobody was buying it because there was hardly any games for the device and the device was a bit more pricey than what was expected. Six months later, Nintendo slashed the price down on the system and offered an Ambassador program (free games) to those that bought the system at full retail price. We will just have to wait and see what happens when the Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5th.
What are your thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal? Are you picking this game up on day one, are you waiting to see if there is a price drop, or are you skipping this generation? Is there a game that you are excited for the most? Leave a comment in the comments section of your thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2. Make sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Minds, MeWe, and TRUTH Social to stay up to date for more news, reviews, and discussions