| KLXVER said: From what I heard a 64GB cart costs 16 dollars for publishers. Maybe cheaper when you buy them in the millions, but its expensive. Add the fact that Nintendo takes 30% and it adds up. I just think they should have more options. |
The $16 must include the royalty fee that is paid to Nintendo already, because otherwise there would hardly be anything left for the publisher. Nintendo's cut is 30% for digital games, but for physical games it's lower at around 20%. That is because for digital games, Nintendo is both platform holder and retailer whereas for physical they are not.
For a $60 game, this is what a third party publisher would have to give up to Nintendo and retailers:
1. Physical: $16 to Nintendo (if rumor is true) + ~$10 retailer cut = ~$26
2. Digital: 30% to Nintendo = $18
Digital is more profitable for publishers, hence the push towards digital games.
If for physical it were $16 for the card, 30% to Nintendo ($18) and ~$10 retailer cut, you'd end up with $44, leaving only $16 for a publisher. At that point we likely would have no physical games anymore.
Legend11 correctly predicted that GTA IV will outsell Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I was wrong.
