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Otter on 22 December 2025
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IcaroRibeiro said:

I don't think there is a pricing issue (yet)

There is a middling software issue compared to Switch 1. Switch 1 launched with a library of Wii U ports most of their fans never played because they never owned a Wii U, so the library of first party titles looked beefer on Switch 1 compared to Switch 2. Switch 1 launched with 3D Zelda, 3D Mario and their biggest live service game (Splatoon 2). Sorry but all those stomps Mario Kart, Mario Kart is a party-game at heart, you don't rush buying systems to play party games

I believe Nintendo Expected Metroid to have its own 3D Zelda moment, which didn't happen either


The biggest issue here is not really an issue, it's just a white people's problem: There was plenty of stock to buy since launch, meaning there was no pentup demand for this first holiday, so the sales become more evenly distributed instead of concentrated in the last part of the year

In a market where price increases are frequent people will rush out for consoles as soon as they can. PS5 and Series S/X would both have record-breaking launch releases if they were realized mid year with enough stock I believe

Switch 2 may be the first console with a new sales trajectory, one where consoles launch with huge numbers, then quickly collapse until software library becomes beef enough for casuals to buy them. I fully expect PS6 to repeat this lol

I agree with all of this except Mario Kart 8 was a huge system seller combined with the overall living room appeal of the switch.

But that took time to establish, and just like the other games you mentioned, MK8 was actually new to the general public and a huge experience leap over what people had last played almost a decade prior (MK Wii/DS).

Now everyone has MK8, Mario Kart World is just less compelling. The open world aspect is honestly a gimmick that doesn't really benefit the "fun". It visually looks the same to an untrained eye and MK8 is still an evergreen and fit for parties etc. It will sell gangbusters of course but more by default of "why not get the new mario kart", versus "we have to get this new system so we can play the new mario kart."