The last few days for Nintendo and the gaming community have been nothing short of chaotic with the full reveal of theNintendo Switch 2. The company’s stellar Direct presentation for the new console on April 2 was immediately overshadowed by a flurry of disappointing and baffling information that sent fans into a spiral. Yet, as concerning as these issues may seem on the surface, I can’t help but feel that a more alarming problem is hiding in plain sight.
From the extortionate game prices for the Switch 2, to the introduction of game-key cards, Nintendo has found itselfunder harsh and relentless criticismthat could have a major impact on the new console’s overall appeal. Among the higher costs for Switch 2 games, Nintendo has also introduced a new approach to pricing that will have a huge effect on those who tend to purchase games physically. Unfortunately, this new approach taken by Nintendo follows a growing trend within the gaming industry as a whole, andit makes me more worried about the future of physical games than ever before.
Physical Switch 2 Games Cost More In The UK
Multiple Regions Have Differences In Physical & Digital Pricings
Nintendo has made the baffling decision to make physical releases of Switch 2 games more expensive than digital releases in the United Kingdom. On the officialMy Nintendo Store UKwebsite, bothMario Kart WorldandDonkey Kong Bananzaare currently listed at £66.99 GBP and £58.99 respectively for the digital versions,while their physical counterparts are £8 more expensive. This disparity between prices can also be seen in other European regions, with gaming news siteEurogamerreporting a €10 price difference between the physical and digital versions of both games.
“DROP THE PRICE”: Nintendo Treehouse Switch 2 Stream Chat Showered With Upset Reactions
During the Nintendo Treehouse Switch 2 stream, the chat becomes full of messages saying, “DROP THE PRICE,” with fans notably upset at the price.
While players in the US are yet to receive the same difference in pricing,they still face huge costs for Switch 2 gamesin general,withMario Kart Worldinitially being pricedat $79.99 USD by Nintendo. This is a stark contrast from the original Switch, where first-party games would only ever cost a maximum of $69.99, except forThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.That’s not even mentioning the introduction of game-key cardsthat was reported byPolygon, meaning some titles don’t even come installed on the cartridge, essentially serving as a digital release.
It’s worth noting that the pricing of the Switch 2 console and its games in the US could change drastically in the near future.Nintendo delayed pre-orders for the Switch 2in the US in order to reassess following the recent tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.
It’s hard to describe the shock I felt when I first learned of the changes Nintendo had made to physical releases. As someone who prefers to purchase games physically, I found myself looking towards the Switch 2 bundle which comes withMario Kart World, as I simply couldn’t justify the extra £40 to get the console and physical game separately.Nintendo has constructed a system for the Switch 2 that actively discourages you from moving towards the physical version of its games, instead placing major barriers that make digital purchases far more convenient.
Nintendo Isn’t The First Company To Make Physical Purchases Harder
Multiple Companies Have Made A Clear Push Towards Digital Games
Unfortunately, Nintendo is not the only company to push players towards digital purchases of its games in such an egregious way. Most recently,Sony made the decision to release the PlayStation 5 Pro without a disc drive, instead offering it as a paid accessory for the upgraded console, costing players $79.99. With the PS5 Pro already being sold at a hefty price of $699.99, the disc drive add-on served as a major barrierbetween players and their physical game library, once againdiscouraging them from continuing to cultivate a physical collection.
Players are being actively punished for remaining dedicated to the collections they’ve made over the course of several years.
What I find so upsetting about this recent trend is how companies like Sony and Nintendo are placing unfair treatment on physical collectors such as myself. Rather than positioning digital purchases as a simple alternative to physical, players are being actively punished for remaining dedicated to the collections they’ve made over the course of several years.I’ve found myself questioning the worth of sticking to physical purchases if I’m going to suffer because of it, showing the effectiveness this strategy has.
Even then, I’m hesitant to make the move as physical games offer something that digital versions don’t, which is ownership. As convenient as digital games may be to purchase and play,you only ever pay for the license to play the game, which can be revoked at any time. Digital games lack that ownership that makes physical releases a far more ideal way for me to play games. It makes me more concerned over the current push to leave physical gaming behind,as it comes with so many implications over ownership of the titles you purchase.
The Switch 2 Pricing Has Left Me Disappointed & Worried
Nintendo’s Decision Paints A Bleak Future For Physical Games
While the many changes being made to physical gaming are certainly sad to see, what makes the Switch 2 pricing so disappointing is how surprising the move itself is.With the ever-growing rise of subscription servicesfor major game releases from companies such as Microsoft and Sony, Nintendo never made the same kind of push for digital games, ensuring physical versions of its titles were always readily accessible. With this in mind,I maintained hope that Nintendo would keep this approach moving forward, giving physical games the attention they deserve.
“A True Crisis Moment For Nintendo”: Former Nintendo PR Managers Share Thoughts On Switch 2 Reveal
Two former PR managers for Nintendo have shared their thoughts regarding the Switch 2 reveal, calling it a “true crisis moment for Nintendo.”
With theSwitch 2, that hope I once had has now faded, and I’ve become more worried about physical games than before. Nintendo’s decision to push players towards digital games has left physical titles without any support from any major video game company, forcing them to be placed further into the background.That lack of support paints a bleak future where physical games will become a thing of the past, allowing digital releases to dominate while removing that ownership and preservation that physical titles allowed for.
