"Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive Games Ease Price Shock, Says Ex-PlayStation Boss"

The former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment America, Shawn Layden, has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the pricing of Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2. With the console set at $449.99 and certain games like Mario Kart World priced at $79.99, some fans have expressed concern over the cost. Layden, speaking on the PlayerDriven YouTube channel and podcast, suggests that the allure of exclusive Nintendo titles like Mario, Donkey Kong, and Zelda softens the impact of these price increases.

Last week, Nintendo announced the Switch 2's price, which is higher than anticipated by some analysts, and also confirmed a $10 increase for select games. However, they are offering a limited-time bundle that includes Mario Kart World with the Switch 2 for $499.99, effectively reducing the game's cost by $30. This bundle's future pricing remains uncertain due to potential tariff changes and Nintendo's decision to delay pre-orders in the U.S.

During the Nintendo Direct, several other Switch 2 Edition games were revealed at the same $79.99 price point, including Kirby and The Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star Crossed World, Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. IGN has provided extensive coverage on the reactions to this pricing strategy, including insights from analysts.

Layden contrasted Nintendo's approach with that of Sony and Microsoft, noting that while the latter two are expanding their games to PC and rival consoles, Nintendo remains committed to keeping its first-party titles exclusive to its own hardware. He remarked, "But if it’s the only place where you can play Mario, then you get your wallet out and you buy into it... and Donkey Kong and Zelda. That first-party exclusivity kind of mitigates the sticker shock, if you will, of these price hikes, because you want that content so bad."

Nintendo Switch 2 pricing in the U.S. includes:

• Nintendo Switch 2 by itself: $449.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundled in: $499.99
• Mario Kart World by itself: $79.99
• Donkey Kong Bananza: $69.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: $79.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: $49.99
• Joy-Con 2 Controller pair: $89.99
• Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip: $34.99
• Joy-Con 2 Strap: $12.99
• Joy-Con 2 Wheel pair: $19.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set: $109.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector: $34.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case: $79.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter: $29.99

Layden also discussed the broader context of video game pricing, noting that, adjusted for inflation, the cost of games has effectively decreased over time. He argued that game prices should have incrementally increased by $5 with each console generation, suggesting that they would now be around $90. "In 2025 dollars, $59.99 in 1999 is equivalent to $100. Your purchasing power compared to your cost of living, it's much smaller now than it was before, but still companies have been reluctant to push that price up," he stated.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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In a recent interview with IGN, Bill Trinen, Vice President of Product and Player Experience at Nintendo of America, defended the $80 price tag for Mario Kart World, emphasizing the game's expansive content and value. He hinted at an upcoming Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct, where more details would be shared. Trinen said, "Mario Kart World, I think especially as you see from the Nintendo Direct, not to give you any hints or anything, but I did read your article this morning and I think you had mentioned that you didn’t find a lot to discover when roaming around. So I would say tune into our Mario Kart Direct to see what, maybe you'll be able to find out about that."

Regarding the $80 cost of some Switch 2 Edition games, Trinen explained that Nintendo assesses each game's content and value to determine an appropriate price. He noted that there are upgrade paths for existing owners of certain titles and benefits for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members. "Well, again, what I would say is that we just look at each individual game and we look at the content and the value of that game, and then we say, 'what is the right price for the value of this entertainment?'" he explained.

On the topic of the Switch 2's $450 price, Trinen acknowledged the rising costs associated with new technology and console development but reiterated Nintendo's focus on delivering value to consumers. "Obviously the cost of everything goes up over time, and I personally would love if the cost of things didn't go up over time," he said. "But I think any time you're building a new system that's got new features and new tech, there's costs associated with that."

Concerns have been raised by some Nintendo fans about being priced out of the next-generation console, especially in light of potential price increases due to tariffs. This situation adds another layer of complexity to Nintendo's pricing strategy for the Switch 2 and its games.