Exciting as the Nintendo Switch 2 direct was last week, even as it ended on a high note with Donkey Kong Bananza, fans remained cautiously enthusiastic. We all recognized that Nintendo had left out the price of everything from the direct.
There was no price for the Nintendo Switch 2 or the games, which made even more sense when we found out, shortly after the direct was over, how expensive the Switch 2 was and how games like Mario Kart World would be jumping up to $80 USD.
But before we even get into how tariffs could further change the pricing of the hardware and the games, Nintendo feels that Mario Kart World and every other Nintendo Switch 2 game that will cost $80 are worth that price point.
Speaking to IGN, Nintendo of America vice president of product and player experience Bill Trinen discussed how Nintendo arrived at its new pricing structure and was adamant that Mario Kart World, the Nintendo Switch 2, and everything else that Nintendo reveals that now costs more are justified in that price.
“I would say it’s less about the strategy of pricing Mario Kart World, it’s more just whenever we look at a given game, we just look at what is the experience, and what’s the content, and what’s the value? Mario Kart World, I think especially as you see from the Nintendo Direct, not to give you any hints or anything, […] I would say tune into our Mario Kart Direct to see what, maybe you’ll be able to find out.”
“But honestly, this is a game that is so big and so vast that you will find so many little things to discover. And there’s still some other secrets remaining that I think as people end up buying and playing the game, they’re going to find this to be probably the richest Mario Kart experience they’ve ever had.”
Trinen’s answer about the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom being $80, or the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree also being $80, followed the same line of thinking.
“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?'”
“[…] I think overall, our general approach is really just focus on what’s the content, what’s the value, and what’s an appropriate price based on that.”
As a senior executive at Nintendo, Trinen is expected to defend the price hikes. Ultimately, everyone buying or not buying a Nintendo Switch 2 and any of the exclusive games for it will make that judgment for themselves.
And who knows, Trinen could end up being right in many players’ eyes. We’ll have to see how the upcoming Mario Kart World Direct fares with fans and if what’s revealed there really showcases why it is worth the $80 price tag.
