People either forget or ignore that inflation is a thing. I looked up old catalogs from when SNES launched and it was $200 ($467 in 2025) with Super Mario World bundled and F-Zero was $54 ($126 in 2025).

1991-it was $593 to get SNES with Super Mario World & F-Zero.

2025-it’s $590 to get Switch 2 with Mario Kart World, a year of NSO (to play MKW online) & Donkey Kong Bananza.

Actually, maybe an economic crisis would be good for the video game industry. History has shown that economic crises tend to favour the dedicated video game industry. And this dates all the way back to the crash of 1987.

But for some recent numbers we can test this against, the Great Recession and the Coronavirus recession.

In 2021 - the video game industry enjoyed a boost from about 40 million sales to 50 million sales, and then 48 million in 2022. On top of that, the biggest enemy to this period wasn't a lack of demand, it was a lack of supply. While Switch was selling a ridiculous amount, it was doing so while supply constrained, and the PS5 was selling ridiculously high on Ebay.

In 2008, millions were losing their homes and unemployment was on the rise (about double what it is today), but the video game industry almost doubled hardware sales volume - according to VG Charts, 89 million current gen video game consoles sold (100 million+ including GBA and PS2 which sold 3 and 8 million respectively), and 82 million in 2009. The two highest selling years in video game history, and it's not even close. The continually sold out Wii was selling for about 620-650 USD on eBay most of these two years, but as high as 900+ during the holiday season.

I don't expect the Switch 2 to sell as well as the Switch 1, but this is the internet overreacting again just like people did with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. I'm betting the Switch 2 still sells at least 100 million units.

I remember when people were boycotting sword and shield because they got rid of the national dex. Those games went on to be the 2nd best selling games in the series. Gamers don't really have the willpower to do an effective boycott.

There's just one thing that I keep thinking about, that cracks me up, and that's how Nin just can't help themselves after a hit product, and in this case:

Nin - Somehow, someway, doesn't screw the name up this time, leading everyone to believe for once they've got it all figured out.
Also Nin - Screws up the pricing royally, because they had to screw up something, because they always do, after a hit.

I actually think if Switch 2 had been priced at $399, then the backlash as to game pricing wouldn't have been near as bad. It would've obviously been the best move, to leave the hardware pricing at $449, and make the games $10 less. That would've only created minor controversy at most, and Nin could've had their cake and ate it too.

I don't really think Switch 2 is in trouble, I just think with the pricing strategy they have now, it's not going to come near the heights that Switch ends up reaching, but still can be a successful product.

No console is reaching the heights the Switch 1 got to, it was perfectly timed and designed to take full advantage of an unprecedented global shut down for like a year+.

That's unlikely to happen again this century and Sony is never getting close to Switch 1 numbers with any console either.

Hello,

When I said that the Switch 2 felt like Nintendo's PS3 moment , I was ot referring only to the price of the console. Effectively, even if the Switch 2 is by far Nintendo's most expensive console, the price is still a one time expense that is much lower than the PS3 comparatively to its time.

But the price of games is what make the Switch 2 an very bad deal. In Europe where I live, for physical game, it's an increase of about 60% for the prices of games. I am currently paying around 55€ at release for games like Zelda and 45€ for games likes Animal Crossing or Mario and Luigi.

Nintendo is now trying to push these games toward 90€ and 80€ respectively. That's 60-70% increase on the price of games. I don't think some people realize how much it will hurt their software business and affect negatively the reception of the console.

In France retailers are now putting the console a 439€ instead of 469€ for preorders. Signs that the numbers are not what they expected?

Retailers also have started to put Mario kart at 69€ and Donkey Kong at 59€.

Considering the japanese price of the hardware, it certainly seems like there was room to launch it at 399 at least in Europe if they wanted (I can understand a higher price in the US due to tariffs). If they wanted more money they could have done an OLED version with more storage at a 100 premium which would have been the go to version for early adopters anyway.

I still think the system will do just fine, but I understand why some now feel like they get shafted on the hardware, then shafted on the software, and having to pay for the Welcome Tour as a cherry on top.

Just checked my favorite hardware shop here in Denmark, to buy online from.

Mario Kart World  - 649 kr (~81$) (this is the physical version, so cheaper than 90$....)
Nintendo Switch2 Camra - 1299 kr (~162$) (might be a placeholder, seems way to high)
Switch 2 -  No price yet, you can only ask for a notification. Due to it not being ready for pre-orders yet, or too high demand.

Komplet doesn't have it listed yet either,...

El-giganten and Power, both have them up for preorders at 4249 kr.  (~531$) (that is the non-bundled mario Kart version).
The Mario Kart bundle is 4749 kr (~593$)

...

I hope Denmark gets a cheaper one, before the next mainline Mario is out.
439€ is still pricey but its a easier swallow than 531$ (or 593$ bundle).