Why Nintendo Switch 2 game prices are so high, according to analysts
By Regardless of the presence of tariffs, one aspect became apparent after the Nintendo Switch 2 presentation last week: consumers are expected to spend more on games for the console upon its debut on June 5, 2025.
In fact, they may end up paying even more than they are accustomed to for first-party titles on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in the US and parts of Europe.
Take, for instance, the flagship launch title Mario Kart World, which is set at a pre-tariff price of $80 in the US for both its physical and digital editions, while it’s £75 for a physical copy in the UK (or £67 digitally) and €90 in Europe (or €80 digitally). For Japanese consumers, the price is ¥8,980 (approximately $61) for the digital edition and ¥9,980 (about $68) for a physical copy.
July’s Donkey Kong Bananza is priced slightly lower at $70/£67/€80 for a physical copy (though again, it’s uncertain if the US price may change due to tariffs). The US pricing is the same for digital copies, while the UK eShop price is £57 and the European price is €70. In Japan, physical and digital copies will cost ¥8,980 (around $61) and ¥7,980 (approximately $54) respectively.
For reference, 2023’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom fell into the more expensive category of games on the original Nintendo Switch, priced at $70 and £60 in the UK.
The recent Switch remaster Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is available for $60/£50 on Nintendo’s eShop, or around £8 cheaper physically from UK retailers according to a brief search.
Xbox’s next major release – Doom: The Dark Ages – will be priced at $70/£70/€80 for both digital and physical copies (the exception being the UK physical price of £65). Sony’s Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, releasing in June, charges the same for both digital and physical editions.
Essentially, Nintendo has aligned its pricing with competitors, and in certain comparable cases, has even surpassed them.
Last week, following the Switch 2 presentation and the announcement of Trump’s tariffs (but prior to US hardware pre-orders being placed on hold), we consulted analysts about the reasons behind the growing prices in these markets.
“In light of global inflation, it’s a prime moment for Nintendo to prepare for the future and raise prices universally,” says Kantan Games founder Dr. Serkan Toto.
“I think a more intriguing inquiry is what might happen within the rest of the video game industry, especially in the US.”
Mat Piscatella, Circana
“They observe the market and see Sony charging $700 for a PS5 Pro or hear rumors of price increases for major titles like Grand Theft Auto 6. Nintendo was also encouraged by the success of the $70 they set for Tears Of The Kingdom in 2023.”
“More simply, I believe they raised software prices across all these areas because they think they can.”
Toto anticipates that fans will acclimate to the new prices. “Nintendo has already factored in the backlash and discontent from part of the fanbase, betting that this will eventually cool off and gamers will adapt to a new normal. I think they will be right about this.”
Ampere Analysis’ Piers Harding-Rolls posits that the pricing could be attributed to a mix of inflation and Nintendo’s relatively cautious approach to microtransactions and additional DLC.
“I believe $80 for Mario Kart World reflects the recent inflation we’ve witnessed across all consumer goods, serving as a benchmark for the new platform, particularly since Nintendo is not aggressively pursuing in-game monetization to counteract rising expenses.”
“The tariff issue will impact physical games more significantly than digital ones,” Harding-Rolls stated before US pre-orders for the Switch 2 were suspended. “A price difference between the two formats in this context is quite reasonable.”
Looking back over the decades, Nintendo has consistently set higher prices than its rivals. “Nintendo has a history of pricing games higher than other platforms when entering the market mid-cycle in comparison to other console platforms – in this instance, PS5 and Xbox Series.”
“I recall N64 titles being more expensive than PlayStation titles back in the day, for example. While some of this is related to the cost of goods, Nintendo also prefers to follow its unique strategy and price based on its personal value assessment.”
The notion of Nintendo’s unique valuation is supported by an IGN interview with Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America’s VP of Player & Product Experience, completed last week.
“I would say it’s not so much about the strategy behind pricing Mario Kart World,” Trinen explained. “Rather, whenever we assess a particular game, we simply evaluate the experience, the offering, and the value.”
Harding-Rolls does not expect exorbitant game prices to deter the early adopters from purchasing Mario Kart World, affirming many will buy the bundle anyway. “Based on that, I believe some top-tier Nintendo titles will launch at this price point, and some third-party developers may follow suit.”
“I believe [Nintendo] raised software prices across all these regions because they think they can.”
Dr. Serkan Toto, Kantan Games
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