Nintendo President Explains Switch 2’s “Variable Pricing” Model
Source: Nintendo
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- Doug Bowser, President of Nintendo, shared insight on the Nintendo Switch 2’s pricing strategy.
- They have not set a benchmark for new titles yet, but the pricing varies depending on development, gameplay, durability over time, and more.
- Previous generation Nintendo consoles also had variability in pricing.
In an exclusive interview with The Washington Post, Doug Bowser detailed Nintendo’s pricing structure for the Nintendo Switch 2 – which sees a select number of titles up to $90 for physical copies, and $80 for digital iterations. Donkey Kong Bananaza, on the other hand, remains at the standard retail price of $70.
“What you see right there is variable pricing. We’ll look at each game, really look at the development that’s gone into the game, the breadth and depth of the gameplay, if you will, the durability over time and the repeatability of gameplay experiences,” he explained.
Many more aspects go into consideration for the right pricing point for a game, and Nintendo has not set a benchmark yet. Since Nintendo has been pioneering the video game industry, essentially driving the market forward, The Washington Post asked president Doug Bowser if “breaking the seal on higher game prices is part of its [Nintendo’s] role as an industry leader.”
Tears of the Kingdom cost $70, while a remake of an older GBA Zelda game, “Links Awakening,” cost $60 – the latter initially released in 1993, while the former was one of the most anticipated video game titles of all time.
It appears this will be Nintendo’s plan going forward, prioritizing variable pricing set by various factors. Nintendo fully intends on supporting their initial Nintendo Switch.
“We’ll continue to observe consumers and how they engage and enter into the platform at various levels to try to really understand what the future may look like.
“Here’s the other point. We have an install base [for the Switch] of 150 million plus units. We’ll probably announce more on May 8 when we have our next earnings call. We want to keep those players engaged. Not all of them may be ready to jump to Switch 2.”
The Nintendo Switch 2 releases on June 5, 2025, with an initial price point of $449.99. Mario Kart World Tour – the successor to the Mario Kart franchise, will be the release title for the Switch 2. The console boasts substantial improvements from its predecessor, offering stronger power, a better screen, improved joycons, and more.
