Doug Bowser says Nintendo will use ‘variable pricing’ for Switch 2 games

Last week, Nintendo generated a lot of discussion when they announced that Mario Kart World, which is set to debut on the upcoming Switch 2 console, would retail for $79.99 USD. This price is significantly higher than what most recent Nintendo games have been sold for, but Doug Bowser, President of Nintendo of America, has justified this as part of a new “flexible pricing” strategy that Nintendo will employ with titles for the Switch 2.

Doug Bowser, in a conversation with The Washington Post, elaborated on the pricing strategy for Mario Kart World and future Switch 2 games. In his words, “That price point is flexible.” He further detailed that they consider several factors when determining the cost, such as the development effort put into the game, the scope of the gameplay, the longevity of the gaming experience, and the potential for repeated playthroughs.

In simpler terms, Bowser mentioned that the audience should expect fluctuating prices for Switch 2 exclusive games like Mario Kart World, and there isn’t a fixed price point yet. This means that the current price of $79.99 for Mario Kart World might not be consistent across all future Switch 2 exclusives. We’ve already observed this flexible pricing in action with Donkey Kong Bananza being priced at $69.99 USD.

As a dedicated gamer this week, I’ve been keeping my ear to the ground about the chatter surrounding game software and hardware prices. The buzz really picked up when news broke that the Switch 2 would set me back $449 USD. To make things more intriguing, Nintendo decided to hold off on pre-orders while they take a closer look at the global economic situation. Keep it locked right here with Shacknews – we’re counting down the days as we get closer to the June release date for the Switch 2!

Read More

2025-04-07 17:57