The Nintendo Switch 2 is Really Cool... and REALLY Overpriced!
So, we finally got all the info about the Switch 2!
It can do 4K, can go all the way up to 120 frames per second in some games, the third-party support is huge, voice-chat and screen sharing have been added, the console is bigger and way more powerful, Switch 1 games will look better than ever on the new hardware, and Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Kirby Air Riders, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment all look really cool!
…Yay?
Well, I guess, sort of.
A Monkey's Paw
I’m sure most of you folks reading this have already heard, but the Nintendo Switch 2 is really pricey. It's still super cool, and did nearly everything I wanted it to, but jeez. I mean, $450 USD for the console is a little high. I would argue that the console pricing felt sort of reasonable, considering the specs and hardware features. Unfortunately, it starts to feel considerably rough when you look at the rest of the package. It costs extra money if you have an existing Switch library and want to enjoy the upgraded specs on offer. It costs extra money to buy the games now, too. $80 for a single video game is seriously unaffordable in today’s economy, and it’s gonna turn people away. The more traditional Pro Controller is another $80. You want another dock for the bedroom? $110. If I were to go and buy the Nintendo Switch 2 and two games, Mario Kart World and Cyberpunk 2077, the total, including tax, would be $639.41. That’s a whole lot, and I’m not including any accessories. No one can afford that right now.
Beating Around the Bush
To add insult to injury, the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct had no mention of the pricing, and interested customers had to go looking for the price, which was buried on the Nintendo website. This is sneaky. It feels like Nintendo was ashamed of the pricing and wanted to keep it under wraps or something. The even more appalling part about this whole ordeal is that Nintendo hasn’t been answering any questions about the pricing of the system or its software. It’s straight up an off-limits topic at any of these Switch 2 showcases. When selling a product to a customer, the worst thing you could do is be sneaky about the price.
This morning (as of Friday, April 4th), Nintendo announced that preorders for the new console have been delayed in the United States until further notice, citing Trump’s tariffs as the reason. Before this, I thought that the new pricing was a result of the tariffs, but I kind of doubt that now. It’s very possible that the pricing for Nintendo’s new machine might be even worse than it already is in the States. If they're taking preorders down, it might be to adjust the price because of these tariffs.
A Foreboding Future for Nintendo Switch 2
That’s super concerning for the future of this platform. Other consoles have seen untimely demises for lesser sins. The PlayStation Vita struggled to get off the ground due to high pricing on storage, and the 3DS sold like raincoats in the Sahara until the big N dropped its pricing. I’m speculating here, but realistically, I don’t see this system selling very well (at least in the USA) if no one can afford it. Parents will see the pricing on the system and games and tell their kids that they “already have Mario Kart at home” and younger adults are working entry level jobs or are still in college or trade school. When given the choice between bills and groceries or the new $450 Switch with its $80 games, people will vote with their wallets. Even I'm reconsidering the platform, and I'm a huge Nintendo fan. I have a blog about video-games, for crying out loud! If someone like me is having second thoughts, I don't doubt that the majority of potential buyers will give Nintendo the finger and walk away. The primary audiences of this new platform have been completely alienated by its pricing structure, and for that, the console might be doomed from the start. I guess we'll see.
What do you folks think? I’d really like to hear your thoughts, so go ahead and shoot me a message and I’ll do my best to read through it and respond. Thanks again for reading my blog everyone!! :D Y’all rock, and I’m happy to see the little internet continue to be so bad-ass!