Opinion: A Few Too Many Questions & Unwelcome Surprises Are Taking The Shine Off The Switch 2 Reveal

After going hands-on with the device, we can confirm that the Switch 2 is exhilarating. It not only presents fresh Nintendo experiences but also revitalizes the original Switch libraries that many users have built over the past eight years. The extended release seems promising for Nintendo enthusiasts, though a few ambiguous details and minor disappointments are somewhat tarnishing what should be a jubilant occasion.

Some of these issues are beyond Nintendo’s control, to be fair. The primary controversy centers around pricing — specifically $80 games — and the news that pre-orders in the US had been delayed has only intensified the situation.

The US launch date remains June 5 at the time of writing, but the uproar surrounding the potential for further price hikes in that area as Nintendo evaluates “the impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions” has me wondering if, as unbelievable as it may sound, it could indeed be frustrated Nintendo fans that ultimately influence the US administration’s stance on exceptions and exemptions for the gaming industry. There are numerous broader factors at play here, but in such an unpredictable environment? You can’t disregard it entirely.

In certain respects, it seems like Nintendo is stretching goodwill to its limits with its pricing and, ironically, the tariff situation helps shift some of the ‘blame’ in different areas. Citing vague economic factors and the depreciated yen may not make potential buyers feel at ease with high RRPs, but emphasizing avoidable tariffs with a strategically timed Friday announcement that boils down to, ‘Hmm, we’re considering our options…’ diverts attention and applies pressure by implying action without actually taking any.

The stated price of $450 was in line with what most observers expected, but it’s the little hits to your wallet in other areas that begin to cast a shadow over the console and its game lineup.

I’ve discussed previously the predicament Nintendo faces regarding its pricing strategy in light of the PS5 Pro’s $700 price tag. Given the context of the depreciated yen, ‘region-locking’ a more affordable Switch 2 for the Japanese market is understandable. I don’t like the idea of regressing and arbitrarily preventing others from enjoying imported games, but I can see why the company would do so; Japanese families being able to afford the new Nintendo console is something no reasonable person should begrudge, despite the frustrating impact on expats living in the country. And from a business perspective, it makes complete sense to discourage the importation of hardware from the most affordable market.

$80 games are hard to swallow, yet not surprising. Mario Kart World looks fantastic. It feels amazing. I have no doubt that the vast majority who pay $80 (or the equivalent regional price) will derive $80 worth of enjoyment from it. However, it is another significant financial hit, and one that sets a precedent not only for Nintendo titles but the entire industry as well. You can be sure that publishers around the globe are breathing a sigh of relief that Nintendo, of all companies, has taken this hit without protest.

In this climate of overall dissatisfaction, smaller, baffling decisions became the last straw for many — in this case, both your finances and perhaps even worse, your excitement for the console.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour costing, say, $10 instead of being included is not necessarily a huge deal on its own (nor particularly surprising given 1-2-Switch‘s remarkable sales success eight years ago), but it adds to a series of minor letdowns that cumulatively make you start questioning if the positives outweigh the negatives.

There is so much to admire about Nintendo’s new offerings, both exciting and perplexing, that’s for sure. It’s simply frustrating to keep stumbling on these obstacles laid out in the past.

One thing that has intrigued me in recent days is system memory. First-party file sizes don’t seem to appear too daunting, with Donkey Kong Bananza coming in at 10GB. Mario Kart World is 23.4GB, though, and given that firmware and game saves will consume part of the 256GB of internal storage, you’ll likely be lucky to fit 10 MKW-sized titles onto the Switch 2.

As the platform holder, Nintendo is indeed proficient at optimizing file sizes for its first-party games. Third-party titles are generally much larger, though, so it appears that the Switch 2 will likely be in the same boat as the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S: get a couple of large third-party games like a COD and an NBA 2K, and suddenly your internal storage is depleted.

Then you hear that these Switch 2 Editions might actually be standard Switch cartridges with a download code, although there remains uncertainty around this with different supporters claiming different things. If this is accurate (and we have reached out for clarification), it’s not the end of the world — I don’t expect the file sizes for these upgrades to be enormous — but this should clearly state ‘DOWNLOAD REQUIRED’ prominently on the box. Given the current wording, you’d understand a memory-conscious or physically-focused TOTK fan who already has the original version feeling misled by the NS2 Edition box, expecting the full game to be on the cartridge and not awaiting to receive yet another version of the game they already own, along with an upgrade code that will take up memory anyway.

As I said, hopefully this is all just a misunderstanding and the upgrade is indeed on the cartridge, whichever