Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive Games ‘Mitigates the Sticker Shock… Because You Want That Content So Bad,’ Ex-PlayStation Boss Says

The erstwhile brag of Sony Interactive Entertainment America has commented connected the backlash to Nintendo’s Switch 2 pricing, saying the tendency for exclusive Nintendo games “mitigates the sticker shock.”

Last week, Nintendo confirmed the Switch 2 terms astatine $449.99, which is astir $50 much than immoderate analysts had predicted, and, much controversially, the $10 leap to $79.99 for immoderate Switch 2 games, including Mario Kart World.

It’s worthy pointing retired that Nintendo is bundling Mario Kart World with a Nintendo Switch 2 for $499.99, cutting the outgo of the crippled by a immense $30 successful the process. However, Nintendo has indicated this bundle is simply a limited-time offer, and it remains to beryllium seen if the bundle holds astatine $500, fixed the uncertainty surrounding the tariff concern and Nintendo’s pre-order hold successful the U.S.

But Mario Kart World isn’t the lone Nintendo Switch 2 crippled to outgo $80 — immoderate of the Switch 2 Edition games announced during the Nintendo Direct besides outgo $79.99, specified arsenic Kirby and The Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star Crossed World, Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.

IGN has plentifulness of absorption to Nintendo’s leap to $80 for the Switch 2 generation, including from analysts who person helped america recognize wherefore this has happened. Now, Shawn Layden, who utilized to tally PlayStation successful the U.S., has offered his thoughts, pointing to the fearfulness of missing retired connected Nintendo exclusives arsenic justifying terms hikes.

Speaking connected the PlayerDriven YouTube transmission and podcast, Layden highlighted the contrasting strategies of Sony and Microsoft, and Nintendo, wherever Sony and Microsoft are downplaying exclusive games arsenic they determination to PC and rival consoles, but Nintendo is keeping its games connected its ain consoles.

"But close present you see, ‘wow, that’s benignant of a hefty terms hike from Switch 1 to Switch 2 and, wow, 80 bucks for a game?’ " Layden said.

"But if it’s the lone spot wherever you tin play Mario, past you get your wallet retired and you bargain into it... and Donkey Kong and Zelda. That first-party exclusivity benignant of mitigates the sticker shock, if you will, of these terms hikes, due to the fact that you privation that contented truthful bad."

Nintendo Switch 2 pricing successful the U.S.:

• Nintendo Switch 2 by itself: $449.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundled in: $499.99
• Mario Kart World by itself: $79.99
• Donkey Kong Bananza: $69.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: $79.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: $49.99
• Joy-Con 2 Controller pair: $89.99
• Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip: $34.99
• Joy-Con 2 Strap: $12.99
• Joy-Con 2 Wheel pair: $19.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set: $109.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector: $34.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case: $79.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter: $29.99

Layden besides talked astir the terms of video games generally, which, helium insisted, person really gone down implicit the years erstwhile you instrumentality into relationship inflation. Layden said console manufacturers should person hiked the terms of games by $5 with each caller console procreation truthful that they would outgo astir $90 now.

"In 2025 dollars, $59.99 successful 1999 is equivalent to $100. Your purchasing powerfulness compared to your outgo of living, it's overmuch smaller present than it was before, but inactive companies person been reluctant to propulsion that terms up.

"I was successful it astatine the clip — astir apt each procreation they should person baked successful a $5 bundle terms hike, and marque that the typical, 'well each procreation it's different 5 bucks.' And you would person been up to $90 already by now."

This week, IGN published its interrogation with Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, conducted astatine a caller Switch 2 preview lawsuit successful New York, but earlier Nintendo announced the hold to pre-orders owed to Trump’s tariffs.

In the interview, Trinen insisted Mario Kart World justifies its $80 terms tag, and pointed to the upcoming dedicated Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct wherever fans volition larn much astir the crippled and what it has to offer.

“I would accidental it's little astir the strategy of pricing Mario Kart World, it's much conscionable whenever we look astatine a fixed game, we conscionable look astatine what is the experience, and what's the content, and what's the value?” Trinen said.

“Mario Kart World, I deliberation particularly arsenic you spot from the Nintendo Direct, not to springiness you immoderate hints oregon anything, but I did work your nonfiction this greeting and I deliberation you had mentioned that you didn’t find a batch to observe erstwhile roaming around. So I would accidental tune into our Mario Kart Direct to spot what, possibly you'll beryllium capable to find retired astir that.

“But honestly, this is simply a crippled that is truthful large and truthful immense and you volition find truthful galore small things successful it to discover. And there's inactive immoderate different secrets remaining that I deliberation arsenic radical extremity up buying and playing the game, they're going to find this to beryllium astir apt the richest Mario Kart acquisition they've ever had.”

We besides asked Trinen astir the $80 outgo of immoderate of the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games. While determination is simply a $10 upgrade way for existing owners of these games connected the Switch, and some The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition ($69.99) and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition ($79.99) are disposable arsenic portion of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, Nintendo is not offering immoderate benignant of discount to newcomers connected Switch 2.

Trinen’s reply present echoed his Mario Kart World response, pointing to the worth Nintendo sees successful its games.

“Well, again, what I would accidental is that we conscionable look astatine each idiosyncratic crippled and we look astatine the contented and the worth of that game, and past we say, 'what is the close terms for the worth of this entertainment?' " helium said.

“What I would astir apt antagonistic to immoderate of that is that truly what you're looking astatine is for the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, that's the carnal terms for idiosyncratic that has not bought the basal game. For idiosyncratic who has bought Tears of the Kingdom oregon Breath of the Wild, the upgrade packs for those are $9.99. And if you hap to beryllium a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack member, some of the Zelda upgrade packs are inclusive wrong that membership. So there's nary further complaint for those.

“But I deliberation overall, our wide attack is truly conscionable absorption connected what's the content, what's the value, and what's an due terms based connected that.”

As for the existent $450 terms tag of the Switch 2 itself, Trinen again pointed to value, but besides highlighted the expanding costs associated with releasing a video crippled console.

“Obviously the outgo of everything goes up implicit time, and I personally would emotion if the outgo of things didn't spell up implicit time,” helium told IGN.

“But I deliberation immoderate clip you're gathering a caller strategy that's got caller features and caller tech, there's costs associated with that. So again, we look astatine what is the acquisition connected Nintendo Switch? What's the acquisition connected Nintendo Switch 2? What are the caller features that it offers? And surely there's the outgo of goods and things that origin into that, but we effort to find the close due terms for a merchandise based connected that.”

As IGN has reported, immoderate Nintendo fans person expressed interest that they whitethorn beryllium priced retired of the next-generation if the institution goes adjacent higher than the already arguable prices for the Switch 2 and its games specified arsenic Mario Kart World owed to the tariff situation.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].