The Nintendo Switch 2 was recently revealed during a feature-length showcase, and one of the most widely discussed topics out the back of the thing was the cost of the device – and the games. With a $450 base price point and games that could cost as much as $90, fans were understandably distressed and concerned about their wallets.
In a recent interview (that was held before Nintendo delayed US pre-orders because of tariffs), a Nintendo VP explained why the price point is so high for the Switch 2. It was an effort to justify what I think is a relatively understandable price tag.
‘Inflation is Affecting Everything’
The recent interview between Polygon and Bill Trinen, Nintendo’s VP of Player & Product Experience, was a telling sit-down that revealed Nintendo’s innermost thoughts about the Switch 2 price.
Trinen was upfront and explained:
Number one, we’re unfortunately living in an era where I think inflation is affecting everything. And it’s affecting everything from day-to-day prices, it’s affecting technology and things of that nature.
I think we’re also seeing smart devices now… I wish they were not nearly as expensive as they are. They’re certainly a lot more expensive than they were when they originally came out in the mid-2000s. So as you add more technology into a system, especially in this day and age, that drives additional cost.
Polygon reported that Trinen also highlighted the upgrades as being a cost driver for the Switch 2’s pricing structure.
Trinen also commented on the exorbitant cost of some Nintendo Switch 2 games:
The price of video games has been very stable for a very long time.
I actually have an ad on my phone that I found from 1993, when Donkey Kong Country released on the SNES at $59. That’s a very, very long time where pricing on games has been very stable. And so obviously, it would be great if we didn’t live in an era when everything is getting more expensive, so there’s that reality of it.
According to the Nintendo VP, each title is considered separately when it comes to pricing, and a variety of factors goes into deciding what tag to assign. That’s why there’s a spectrum of prices for the Switch 2, and that model includes looking at things like the length of a game and what the ‘volume of the experience’ is.
Do you think the price point for the Nintendo Switch 2 is something to be concerned about? Let me know in the comments or on the Insider Gaming forum.
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