We’ve all been waiting years for the successor of the Nintendo Switch, and it’s never been closer. Nintendo recently gave us an entire Nintendo Direct dedicated entirely to the Switch 2, and whilst the games impressed, the internet was divided. Because of course it is. From the pricing of the Switch 2 and its games, to its gimmicks to the launch line-up, we’ve seen complaints about pretty much everything. Honestly, it’s giving us longtime Nintendo fans some deja vu.
Everyone is of course entitled to their own opinion, but in my own, I can’t help but notice that some hyperbolic criticisms of the Switch 2 are just repeating what we heard in the build up to the Switch. I’m going to break down some of the criticisms we’re seeing online, and point out which were used almost verbatim against the Switch back before its 2017 launch, and the lessons we really should learn from what happened last time.
Let’s start with the biggest complaint – the pricing. This is perhaps the most understandable criticism, and one I don’t want to defend too passionately. The Switch 2 is expensive, and with game prices potentially set to increase it’s not a good look for Nintendo, especially in a time of global economic instability. However, to play devil’s advocate (giant corporation defender), the reason these prices have risen is also likely due to that same economic pressure from the ongoing tariffs and change in U.S. presidency. This has even affected pre-orders in the country.
This is something the general public understands – it’s headline news on the front page of every news site regardless of political affiliation. People know that there’s an economic situation ongoing that may make things cost more – so why are some online trying to push so hard the ‘Nintendo is greedy’ idea rather than acknowledging the obvious broader context here?
The idea that Nintendo’s being greedy and overpricing for what some see as a silly portable console is one that was thrown at the Switch from its reveal to its release, and even some time after. Forum posts are still visible where people say that 2017’s Switch has “a terrible price”, saying it will “drop like a bomb” and even predicting less than 30 million lifetime sales for the Switch. At present it has sold 150 million units worldwide. Hilariously, these same wildly wrong remarks also said “Nintendo got greedy with the pricing” – the exact criticism flooding their social media channels and all of our timelines today.
The first Switch was $299 at launch, which adjusted for inflation is a little under $400. The Switch 2 is $449, just $50 more when comparing the purchase power of the dollar to eight years ago. Given the huge upgrade in technology, support of DLSS, HDR and ray tracing technology and just overall increase in build quality and size, we’d say that inflation-considering $50 price rise is worth it.
The area that perhaps is a little more confusing is the rise in gaming pricing. For some reason, Mario Kart World will be 80 entire dollars physically, with other Switch 2 exclusives being the industry-standard $70. This clearly won’t affect the longer term success of the Switch 2, because it’s the standard for many big releases across the industry right now. You can argue it’s too expensive, but it seems a little dramatic to suggest the Switch 2 won’t sell for having expensive games – they’re mostly the same price as everywhere else.
Let’s address the elephant (or kart-riding cow) in the room though. Mario Kart World is weirdly expensive, being $10 more expensive than other Switch 2 games and above the retail price of most other standard games on the market right now. We can’t really wrap our heads around this one; it does seem like Nintendo is being “greedy” but if that was their aim why would it only apply to one game? And why is the digital copy so much cheaper? My best guess is that it’s either a trial to see if people will pay $80, or a way to push folks towards getting the bundled Switch 2 and kickstarting a digital library with Mario Kart World. It’s not great, but one single game being $10 overpriced and available at a discount in console bundles is hardly the death knell of Nintendo many are making it out to be.
While we’re talking about games, the other big complaint that’s all too familiar and dated is the hate towards the launch line-up. The Switch was lambasted for its launch line-up, with the only first-party offerings being The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, along with the far smaller 1-2-Switch and Snipperclips and the Wii U port Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the following month. That’s two Wii U ports and two small-scale indie titles.
People have called the Switch 2’s line-up scarce given it’s not offering a big 3D Mario release or a confirmed mainline The Legend of Zelda title. What’s being overlooked though is the fact that Mario Kart World is a completely original game, already giving the edge to the Switch 2 in terms of day-one desirability. Then add in the fact that both Zelda entries Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will get massively enhanced Switch 2 Editions at launch with new mobile features and content, and a brand new big-budget 3D platformer with Donkey Kong Bananza releases just a month later. There’s really no competition if you look objectively, and that’s not to mention the many other forthcoming Nintendo releases both confirmed for 2025 and yet to be announced.
The Switch 2 today and the Switch of 2017 were and have been “doomed” from the start, according to many online critics. However, it just seems to stem from a morbid urge to see Nintendo fail rather than any accurate understanding of how the gaming industry and gamer preference works. The Switch 2 may seem a bit pricey, but most expected the $450 price tag – and the games are just industry standard (with the exception of Mario Kart World).
Gamers want exciting new mechanics, good gaming experiences and to feel that we’re receiving value from our purchase. That can’t be predicted now, and the hate train going on for the Switch 2 online is almost identical to the Switch – which went on to become a fan favorite system and one of the most successful of all time. Perhaps instead of deciding months away from launch whether Nintendo is cooked or has cooked, we should all just wait and judge based on what we receive after release. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t want to risk being dunked on in an article eight years from now when the Switch 3 hate cycle starts and people dig up the poorly aged Switch 2 hate!
That’s just my opinion though, so what do you think about the current state of Switch 2 discourse online? Do you agree with the critics, or are you getting deja vu like us? Let us know in the comments below, and keep your eyes on GameLuster for more gaming news in the build-up to the Nintendo Switch 2!
