The Price Of Nintendo Switch 2 Games Just Killed The Hype

After what seems like a lifetime, the Nintendo Switch 2 is finally a reality. Fan hype reached an all-time high just before the April 2 Nintendo Direct showcase of the Switch 2, but now that hype is bottoming out because of one pesky detail: Switch 2 games could cost up to $90.

The original Switch is the second-best-selling console in Nintendo's history, losing out only to the Nintendo DS. For years fans have been hoping that the Switch 2 would blow the original console out of the water, and as more details about the system started to leak online, hype for the Switch 2 skyrocketed. The Switch 2's official reveal confirmed some of the most exciting leaks, and the Nintendo Direct presentation made the console look even better. Then fans saw the price of the games.

The Switch 2's biggest launch title, "Mario Kart World," is listed for sale at $80 on Nintendo's digital storefront, but some listings add an extra $10 for the physical copy of the game. Unsurprisingly, fans aren't thrilled by the price hike, especially since there's been recent rumors that "GTA 6" and other game prices are soon to skyrocket. The price of a Switch 2 game doesn't appear to be $80 across the board either, which makes this issue even more confusing for fans to navigate as they decide whether or not to go all-in on Nintendo's new console.

Even before gamers were staring at an $80 price tag on "Mario Kart World," they were faced with a bit of sticker shock when Nintendo revealed the Switch 2's price. The console goes for $449, and Nintendo is offering a "Mario Kart World" bundle for $499. That's a steep financial investment before considering that a Switch 2 Pro controller runs $79.99 and a second pair of Joy-Con 2s will cost $89.99.

That buy-in won't be cheap, but gamers were prepared for the console to be more expensive than the original Switch. The fact that the Switch 2's games are also going to be more expensive is a harder pill to swallow. BenTh3b3ar wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "The hardware being $450 seems fine to me. $90 per base game tho? Actually insane and diabolical levels of greed. its not fully justified by tech supply chain issues and geopolitics. It's just not. This is a Nintendo-specific choice."

Oddly, it seems like not all Switch 2 games are getting a price bump. "Donkey Kong Bananza," another planned launch title, is listed for $69.99 on Nintendo's website. Back in 2024, a "GTA 6" boss commented on the game's price, hinting that it might be more expensive because of the size of the game. Maybe Nintendo is taking a cue from Take-Two and laying the groundwork for a more fluid pricing structure with its Switch 2 games. If so, it doesn't seem like fans are willing to let the change happen without a fight.

Nintendo fans' excitement peaked while watching the company show off its new console, but then they saw the hard numbers after the Nintendo Direct presentation and felt all that enthusiasm evaporate. Naturally fans immediately went from looking at the price of Switch 2 games to dunking on Nintendo online: 

This is how the Nintendo Switch 2 menu will look cus people can only afford one game https://t.co/Vuoyj3KwLT

— Nutty Royale (@NuttyRoyale) April 2, 2025

Some fans are making jokes about how few games Nintendo will sell with the new pricing scheme, and others are even complaining about the Switch 2 bundles that are meant to be a deal for new players. LegenDBoricua posted: "These prices are fine. Mario Kart World physical copy being $79.99 isn't. Explain to me how you're planning to launch a bundle for $499.99 [where] you end up paying $49.99 for the game?? ... That bundle would sell out in minutes then we would have to pay $530. That's a problem."

Gamers are also trying to take these issues directly to Nintendo. In the first livestream Nintendo hosted after the Switch 2 Direct, fans showed up in droves to spam the chat with demands that the company drop its prices. There's no sign that their tactics are having an effect on the company, which is probably hoping that the Switch's reputation and a launch title from "Elden Ring" developer FromSoftware will be enough to overcome any concerns. But if we know anything about the gamers on the internet, they're sure to keep this battle up at least until the Switch 2 launches on June 5. As Aresdotexe wrote on X: "I hope they hear the backlash and make some changes and/or clear things up before launch."