Hiku said:
archbrix said:
We've all had our say in the multiple other threads on this topic already but here's something to think about:
The Nintendo DS was in production until 2014 (roughly 10 years). Nintendo has a big opportunity to keep Switch around for a while as a budget console with it making money for the company as a secondary system. In my opinion, the Switch brand will only strengthen with the launch of Switch 2 if the original is handled right (price reduction, greatest hits line) and if Nintendo continues to support it - even if it's just "token" support - for a couple of more years. Obviously, Nintendo has supported two systems before and Switch can remain viable for people not looking to spend a lot, kids getting their first gaming system, etc. The idea is keeping the Switch ecosystem going, making it easy for people who buy into Switch now to upgrade to the new line, possibly many years later for them.
The Playstation 2 was in production for about 12.5 years. If the Switch's life ends up being 10-11 years, then I think it will top the PS2 in the end... but it's going to take much longer than I thought initially. |
Keeping a system around for a prolongued period after its sucessor, as well as giving it a price cut, is dependant on if other products still use the parts inside of it. Because it's only Switch, then it costs more to produce the components.
The manufacturing facilities want to sell as much as possible. The more buyers/they can sell in bulk, the cheaper it gets. The PS4 never got that price drop that people hoped for after PS5 launched.
I believe a new PS4 Pro only costs $50 less than what PS5 Digital launched for? |
I mean, DS was going for about 10 years; three years past the launch of the 3DS. Were there other products using its parts? And Nintendo stands to make far more money keeping Switch around than DS from online subs alone.
There's no way that Nintendo can't maneuver around a $50 price drop for all Switch models this year. That would put Switch Lite in impulse buy territory, Switch classic at $249 and the Switch OLED still a full $100 cheaper than what Switch 2 will likely be.
Price drops aren't common anymore and they certainly won't help a system that nobody wants to begin with, but for a hit gaming system like the Switch, particularly when it has never had even one official price reduction, there is significant value there once it's cheaper. By the time Switch 2 arrives, I believe a price drop for the original is inevitable.
