Following the Nintendo Direct on April 2, the pricing of theNintendo Switch 2and a few of its exclusive games were quietly revealed, and rising prices are already drawing a significant amount of backlash from fans. During the Direct, the unveiling of games likeMario Kart WorldandDonkey Kong Bananza, as well as the console’s launch date of June 5, built considerable hype for the system, but the subsequent pricing reveal has dampened that enthusiasm for many potential buyers.
With the reveal that theNintendo Switch 2 will be priced at $449.99 USD, and that its first exclusive,Mario Kart World, will cost $79.99 USD as a standalone title, some fans on places likeReddit,GameFAQS, andXare alreadydrawing comparisons to the launch, price drop, and “Ambassador Program” of the 3DS. While Nintendo hasn’t given any indication of a price drop, and likely wouldn’t do so until well after the Switch 2’s launch, some fans are anticipating a similar progression to the 3DS.
Looking Back At The 3DS Ambassador Program
Why Fans Think The Switch 2 Might Be A Repeat Of The 3DS
When the first iteration of the 3DS launched in 2011, it was initially priced at $249.99 USD — $100 more expensive than the launch price of the original Nintendo DS ($149.99). In response to poor initial sales, however,Nintendo lowered the price to $169.99 shortly after launch, giving early buyers compensation in the form of 20 free games from the 3DS Ambassador Program. Now, as the Switch 2, similar to the 3DS in being a “sequel” console, sees a price hike of $150 from the Switch ($299.99), with rising prices on its exclusive games, some fans are expecting a repeat.
Nintendo Switch 2 Price Quietly Revealed By Nintendo
A press release has quietly revealed the price of the Nintendo Switch 2, following a Nintendo Direct that showed off the upcoming console’s features.
However,another factor in the 3DS’s poor performance and subsequent price drop was a lackluster launch lineup, lacking almost any games from Nintendo’s biggest franchises — at the time of launch, the “biggest” games on the 3DS were aMetroid Prime Huntersdemo, the spinoff gamePokémon Dash, and a remake ofSuper Mario 64. In contrast, theSwitch 2 will launch with a major title inMario Kart World, which will likely prove to be populardespite its $80 price tag, and upgraded versions of several Switch games, withDonkey Kong Bananzato follow about one month later.
The Market Is Very Different Now Than It Was When The 3DS Launched
The Switch 2 Is Launching Into A Volatile Market
Comparisons between the 3DS and Switch 2 also often fail to take into accountthe market surrounding each console’s launch. Analysis from sources like theFinancial Times(viaVGC),Forbes, and industry analystMat Piscatella on Bluesky, for example, indicate that the pricing of the Switch 2 and its games could have been affected by tariffs threatened and put in place by U.S. President Donald Trump. Unfortunately, rather than a price cut, further market volatility as a result of tariffs could push pricing even higher.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour Has Already Made A Horrible Mistake For The New Console
In the wake of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, a game called Welcome Tour was announced that would teach you all about your new console - for a price.
Of course, Nintendo isn’t entirely blameless in deciding the pricing of its own products, but, taking market factors and the relative popularity of the Switch into account, fans expectingNintendo to drop the pricemight be disappointed. The unfortunate reality is that, with the launch of theNintendo Switch 2on June 5, some fans might find themselves priced out of buying the console and its exclusive games.
