
Launch price is an important element for a video console that largely plays a role in its potential success.
Some consoles have remained famous for their too high launch prices like the PS3 or the 3DS while others have managed to stand out with a price that defies competition.
The balance is to find a price that is affordable enough to reach a wide audience while finding financial balance to avoid significant losses on hardware sales or in some cases to be able to make a profit on the hardware from the launch as it was the case for the Switch in 2017.
With the next Nintendo console, rumors and leaks, real or supposed, are multiplying but if there is one thing that remains a mystery, it is the price.
To try to determine it, we can base ourselves on the history of launch prices for the main Nintendo consoles:
Wii U (B) = Wii U Basic Pack / Wii U (P) = Wii U Premuim Pack
An interesting point with these price comparisons is to see that all Nintendo home consoles from the SNES to the Wii were launched at a price of 25,000 JPY (inflation excluded)
With the Wii U they allowed themselves for the first time to exceed the price of 25,000 JPY based on 2 packs.
A strategy of double packs that did not really work well with Wii U.
In recent years the loss of value of the yen has made it difficult to envisage a price similar to the Switch for the Switch 2.
We can also imagine that the increased domination of the Japanese market can pushes Nintendo to more easily allow itself a high price on that market.
In the United States, the price that seems to be recurring on home consoles, inflation included, is ~$400.
Switch use a similar price point.
Nintendo had been a little more aggressive with the Gamecube but without success against the Xbox showing that price doesn't do evrything.
Will Nintendo stick to the $400 base or allow itself a price increase?
In Europe, inflation in recent years seems to have an impact on the sales of some consoles.
Thus, a high price of €500 for example could slow down the adoption of the new console in favor of the less expensive Switch models from the previous generation.
This is therefore an important point to consider.
As for the next console, it will also be necessary to take into account the alternatives available on the market, in particular the home consoles from Sony and Microsoft as well as PC Handhelds such as the Steam Deck.
It is good to note finally that with Switch if the price had been judged a little expensive at the announcement, in the end the concept and the positioning have been proven to be more than correct.
With all this in mind what do you think will be Switch 2 launch price ?
Some consoles have remained famous for their too high launch prices like the PS3 or the 3DS while others have managed to stand out with a price that defies competition.
The balance is to find a price that is affordable enough to reach a wide audience while finding financial balance to avoid significant losses on hardware sales or in some cases to be able to make a profit on the hardware from the launch as it was the case for the Switch in 2017.
With the next Nintendo console, rumors and leaks, real or supposed, are multiplying but if there is one thing that remains a mystery, it is the price.
To try to determine it, we can base ourselves on the history of launch prices for the main Nintendo consoles:
Wii U (B) = Wii U Basic Pack / Wii U (P) = Wii U Premuim Pack
An interesting point with these price comparisons is to see that all Nintendo home consoles from the SNES to the Wii were launched at a price of 25,000 JPY (inflation excluded)
With the Wii U they allowed themselves for the first time to exceed the price of 25,000 JPY based on 2 packs.
A strategy of double packs that did not really work well with Wii U.
In recent years the loss of value of the yen has made it difficult to envisage a price similar to the Switch for the Switch 2.
We can also imagine that the increased domination of the Japanese market can pushes Nintendo to more easily allow itself a high price on that market.
In the United States, the price that seems to be recurring on home consoles, inflation included, is ~$400.
Switch use a similar price point.
Nintendo had been a little more aggressive with the Gamecube but without success against the Xbox showing that price doesn't do evrything.
Will Nintendo stick to the $400 base or allow itself a price increase?
In Europe, inflation in recent years seems to have an impact on the sales of some consoles.
Thus, a high price of €500 for example could slow down the adoption of the new console in favor of the less expensive Switch models from the previous generation.
This is therefore an important point to consider.
As for the next console, it will also be necessary to take into account the alternatives available on the market, in particular the home consoles from Sony and Microsoft as well as PC Handhelds such as the Steam Deck.
It is good to note finally that with Switch if the price had been judged a little expensive at the announcement, in the end the concept and the positioning have been proven to be more than correct.
With all this in mind what do you think will be Switch 2 launch price ?
