Will the Switch 2 online backlash for pricing impact its market performance?

[BoktaiFan]

But the 60 USD mark was then accepted in the console space.

And $70 is the accepted one now. In fact I would argue the "accepted" mark is in fact higher. Look at digital deluxe editions, editions that give early access to games by a few days, etc.

Look at the NPD for July 2024. The number 2 games was the ES sports bundle which effectively priced college football and madden at $75 a piece.

Is it your contention that Nintendo pricing 1 game (again available for potentially $50) is still a giant leap

 

[Blue Monty]

Nintendo model of almost monthly AA releases with a couple AAA releases it’s quite different to the current model of most big studios that use the 70$ pricing that’s also something important to consider. The equivalent of most AA Nintendo franchises still has lower price in the 50-60$ of course though they lack the ‘Nintendo brand’.

For a game like DK it won’t be an issue (and others that border the AA to AAA range) but will people pay 70$ for the new Mario Golf or a remake of Paper Mario 64? (latter is just an example of the style of games getting a remake in recent years)

I want to wait a bit to see how they price their game and if it’s a three tier model and not two tier because I don’t see a lot of Switch games that performed well on Switch coming close in Switch 2 if they are 70$, truthfully I don’t have a lot of hope for it considering MP:J is 70$

pd: I didn’t want to get into the European situation but 80€ hurts even more even if u consider it includes tax+retail discounts.

 

[ArkhamFantasy]

Pokemon, Fire Emblem, Animal Crossing went from 40 to 60.

Also it isn't there games going from 60 to 80. It is specifically at this point 1 game that is also available potentially for $50.


DK goes from the HD remaster at $60 to a huge new 3D game for $70 similar to the jump from ps4 to ps5 gen

I think it’s fine to discuss the merits of whether a price increase is warranted but I’ve seen the “$40 to $60” argument a couple of times and I think it’s a bit disingenuous to compare smaller portable standard definition games to significantly higher scope and budget full on console games and act like this is the same thing.

There’s no consistency between switch games being $60 then TOTK being $70 and now other switch games are $70 or $80 and DK is $70 but Kirby is $80. It probably would have helped if Nintendo offered some type of rationale but they didn’t, because “we think you’ll pay for it” while truthful, isn’t great PR.

 

[RDragon]

And $70 is the accepted one now. In fact I would argue the "accepted" mark is in fact higher. Look at digital deluxe editions, editions that give early access to games by a few days, etc.

Look at the NPD for July 2024. The number 2 games was the ES sports bundle which effectively priced college football and madden at $75 a piece.

Is it your contention that Nintendo pricing 1 game (again available for potentially $50) is still a giant leap

It’s low-key the slow boiling frog. Gamers have been getting cooked for years by how companies have been collecting money. DLC packages, early access, collection editions, etc.

Sparking Zero is another good example. It legit cost over $200 to get everything.

 

[Koni]

Nintendo model of almost monthly AA releases with a couple AAA releases it’s quite different to the current model of most big studios that use the 70$ pricing that’s also something important to consider. The equivalent of most AA Nintendo franchises still has lower price in the 50-60$ of course though they lack the ‘Nintendo brand’.

For a game like DK it won’t be an issue (and others that border the AA to AAA range) but will people pay 70$ for the new Mario Golf or a remake of Paper Mario 64? (latter is just an example of the style of games getting a remake in recent years)

I want to wait a bit to see how they price their game and if it’s a three tier model and not two tier because I don’t see a lot of Switch games that performed well on Switch coming close in Switch 2 if they are 70$, truthfully I don’t have a lot of hope for it considering MP:J is 70$

pd: I didn’t want to get into the European situation but 80€ hurts even more even if u consider it includes tax.

Is Jamboree $70 on Switch 2? It's $60 on Switch 1 and the Switch 2 price will probably be that and upgrade stuff included. Same with Kirby and Zelda and Metroid and Pokemon. Pokemon's been packing in DLC like that and charging $90. If the upgrade prices were confirmed then that rationale makes sense, though an explanation would've come in handy.

 

[RDragon]

I think it’s fine to discuss the merits of whether a price increase is warranted but I’ve seen the “$40 to $60” argument a couple of times and I think it’s a bit disingenuous to compare smaller portable standard definition games to significantly higher scope and budget full on console games and act like this is the same thing.

There’s no consistency between switch games being $60 then TOTK being $70 and now other switch games are $70 or $80 and DK is $70 but Kirby is $80. It probably would have helped if Nintendo offered some type of rationale but they didn’t, because “we think you’ll pay for it” while truthful, isn’t great PR.

Kirby is its original price plus $20 since you’re getting upgrades and a DLC. I thought that was pretty obvious.

 

[Lelouch0612]

It’s low-key the slow boiling frog. Gamers have been getting cool for years by how companies have been collecting money. DLC packages, early access, collection editions, etc.

Sparking Zero is another good example. It legit cost over $200 to get everything.

The question is who's the slow boiling frog in this industry, the consumers or the publishers ?

 

[Oregano]

I think it’s fine to discuss the merits of whether a price increase is warranted but I’ve seen the “$40 to $60” argument a couple of times and I think it’s a bit disingenuous to compare smaller portable standard definition games to significantly higher scope and budget full on console games and act like this is the same thing.

There’s no consistency between switch games being $60 then TOTK being $70 and now other switch games are $70 or $80 and DK is $70 but Kirby is $80. It probably would have helped if Nintendo offered some type of rationale but they didn’t, because “we think you’ll pay for it” while truthful, isn’t great PR.

I think the rationale for the upgrades for Jamboree and Kirby is that it's the $60 Switch game with DLC(and the upgrade) so it's almost like a Digital Deluxe edition. The problem is that's just straight up a bad rationale and consumer won't see it that way.

 

[Blue Monty]

Is Jamboree $70 on Switch 2? It's $60 on Switch 1 and the Switch 2 price will probably be that and upgrade stuff included. Same with Kirby and Zelda and Metroid and Pokemon. Pokemon's been packing in DLC like that and charging $90. If the upgrade prices were confirmed then that rationale makes sense, though an explanation would've come in handy.

Jamboree is 80$ mb. Because I’m European I had first all the prices as 80s instead of 70s which I changed but I also changed that one, even then the point still stands than the standard price of a MP in NSW we should expect is 70$ (I consider the new additions a DLC worth 10$) MP is the most popular game of such style by Nintendo so it will perform fine but other alternatives Nintendo offers will probably be priced the same and that’s the current general issue of the NSW software pricing I see a lot of the smaller franchises and games that are full priced in Switch will struggle with the 70$ price tag unless they step up a lot and Nintendo shows that the extra price is worth it.

 

[BoktaiFan]

he “$40 to $60” argument a couple of times and I think it’s a bit disingenuous to compare smaller portable standard definition games to significantly higher scope and budget full on console games and act like this is the same thing.

I dont think is the same thing per se, but it is in the same vein. Costs to produce these games are up and more ambitious vs their predecessor therefore cost increase. I have no doubts that MK World costs way more to produce than MK8. Ditto for DK

As other as have said the Kirby/Jamboree costs are more like game + DLC pricing. They could have communicated that better for sure but seems like that's the logic for those

 

[Kenka]

And $70 is the accepted one now. In fact I would argue the "accepted" mark is in fact higher. Look at digital deluxe editions, editions that give early access to games by a few days, etc.

Look at the NPD for July 2024. The number 2 games was the ES sports bundle which effectively priced college football and madden at $75 a piece.

Is it your contention that Nintendo pricing 1 game (again available for potentially $50) is still a giant leap

There are documented instances of price hikes throughout history, but has a title ever cost 20 USD more than its predecessor? Especially if said predecessor is one of the best selling titles of all time.

 

[BoktaiFan]

There are documented instances of price hikes throughout history, but has a title ever cost 20 USD more than its predecessor? Especially is said predecessor is one of the best selling titles of all time.

Uhh yes all the 3ds example would fit that description, but if we dont want to go into that. Astro bot costs 20 more than rescue mission and 60 more than astros playroom depending on what you want to count! I'm not familiar enough with the earlier nes and snes days of gaming to know that history

 

[Blue Monty]

There are documented instances of price hikes throughout history, but has a title ever cost 20 USD more than its predecessor? Especially is said predecessor is one of the best selling titles of all time.

I imagine the logic is that MK8DX was a re-release if it was a new MK game in the Switch era it would have been a 70€ eur game like Smash (the precedent with BOTW of double price tiering for Switch games). In Europe games increased from 60 eur to 80 eur during the PS4 to PS5 jump instead of 70 like America

 

[Kenka]

Uhh yes all the 3ds example would fit that description, but if we dont want to go into that. Astro bot costs 20 more than rescue mission and 60 more than astros playroom depending on what you want to count! I'm not familiar enough with the earlier nes and snes days of gaming to know that history

You're getting side-tracked. The question was who expected that big of a jump.

 

[BoktaiFan]

You're getting side-tracked. The question was who expected that big of a jump.

Where was that the question? You just asked for instances where it happened

 

[enpleinjour]

Its not the social media backlash that will financially affect them. Thats a symptom of the cause.
The cause is raising software to $80 or 90Euros, and the big hardware prices we see in many regions.

I think these will no doubt have a significant effect on the Nintendo's bottom line, whether thats NSW2 LTD sales, software sales or ecosystem.

Its also worth the biggest losses of a pricing many of your customers out like this accumulates in the later parts of the lifecycle. The first adopters tend to be the most hardcore and therefore price insensitive. Still with how bad things are macrowise, even with the hardcore, thats not a bet many companies would want to risk.

 

[Aostia82]

I think the online backlash is also very drive-by
Previous price increase from other companies, software-wise and hardware-wise havent been judged that bad (apart from the 599 price tag of the ps3), probably because for the internet bubble "major console" (cit.) sell "real games" (cit.) while Nintendo makes "toys for kids" (cit.)
We.will now see how the sentiment is actually shared nowadays by the mass market (I think it partially is)

 

[Joseki]

Orange Man made this entire thread pointless in less than 24h lmao

 

[Not Crazy Steve]

Yes but the Switch 2 will still sell well.

Uhh yes all the 3ds example would fit that description, but if we dont want to go into that. Astro bot costs 20 more than rescue mission and 60 more than astros playroom depending on what you want to count! I'm not familiar enough with the earlier nes and snes days of gaming to know that history

 

[Belthazar]

I don't think the online backlash about the pricing will have much of an impact, but the pricing itself definitely will in regards of reach. Maybe it will benefit Nintendo by having less users that spend more, but only time will tell.

 

[ILikeFeet]

Note that this does not mean that the price won't be a deterrent. This just seemingly confirms what people here were already thinking: the backlash won't really matter. Especially if the games are well-recieved (I think they will be, personally).

I feel like this is one of those problems that get solved as soon as someone checks a store when the device/games launch. they'll check just as a cursory glance and see the price being different and go "oh they changed their minds?". but if they lead into that with a negative mindset, that might stick

I think the rationale for the upgrades for Jamboree and Kirby is that it's the $60 Switch game with DLC(and the upgrade) so it's almost like a Digital Deluxe edition. The problem is that's just straight up a bad rationale and consumer won't see it that way.

maybe the thing to do is sell a $60 version of the games sans dlc. the problem with that is that it already exists, it's the switch version. a solution is to just say "fuck it" and put the switch version in a switch 2 cart regardless, with the res/framerate upgrades applied, charge $10 more, and then have the dlc separately at $!0. but that probably overcomplicates this issue

ultimately, the issue I see is informing people that this is "game + dlc". they should do a better job with that rather than assume people are willing to read the fucking box

 

[storres]

I feel like this is one of those problems that get solved as soon as someone checks a store when the device/games launch. they'll check just as a cursory glance and see the price being different and go "oh they changed their minds?". but if they lead into that with a negative mindset, that might stick


maybe the thing to do is sell a $60 version of the games sans dlc. the problem with that is that it already exists, it's the switch version. a solution is to just say "fuck it" and put the switch version in a switch 2 cart regardless, with the res/framerate upgrades applied, charge $10 more, and then have the dlc separately at $!0. but that probably overcomplicates this issue

ultimately, the issue I see is informing people that this is "game + dlc". they should do a better job with that rather than assume people are willing to read the fucking box

Once the store pages go up, people will look. Nintendo needs to pay for ads in the different storefronts with the prices.

Like as first as you open Best Buy, Target, Walmart app, you see Mario Kart for 79.99 or DK for 69.99.

 

[norealmx]

I don't think even 10% the 100+ millions that bought a Switch 1 cares.

 

[Windom Earle]

I don't think it's quite dawned on people what Nintendo have released here-- an absolute beast of portable/hybrid... peak of the market. There's magic inside this one.

The backlash about the pricing will seem increasing out of place as the performance of the platform starts to come out. The Civilization dev team comparing its power to a mid range PC and the Switch version of SF6 seemingly looking better than the XSS port.

Civ VII team "extremely happy" with Switch 2, compare power to "mid-tier PC"

A civilized experience

gonintendo.com

 

[Metal Gear Miyamoto]

Europe had the biggest chance of suffering from a backlash considering the higher pricepoints for both Hardware and Software. However, a lot of the signs we'e gotten from France, Germany, the UK, Benelux, etc. all indicate that people are quite eager to get the system.

The only question mark remaining is the U.S. but the first signs for Switch 2's momentum indicate that any online backlash is going to wind up similar to Switch 1's 'DOA' rhetoric you heard after the January presentation.

 

[Windom Earle]

Pricing and promotions are a lot more flexible than a weak hardware rollout and games. The product and games in this case are compelling. I think this is mostly a nothing burger driven by fanboyism and clickbait merchants. While it's undeniable that the games pricing might be a obstacle after the holidays it will soon melt to nothing once everything else goes up.

 

[RDragon]

Pricing and promotions are a lot more flexible than a weak hardware rollout and games. The product and games in this case are compelling. I think this is mostly a nothing burger driven by fanboyism and clickbait merchants. While it's undeniable that the games pricing might be a obstacle after the holidays it will soon melt to nothing once everything else goes up.

I honestly think Nintendo is future-proofing themselves if they planned for the Switch 2 to be their flagship system for the next decade like the Switch. So they put in more goodies and price-hiked since the PS6 will be released in the middle of the Switch 2’s lifetime.

 

[Dr. Mario]

Like others said, it will do fine in the beginning. But anecdotally I know a bunch of people who were all in on Switch 1 and said they'd get the Switch 2 first thing when it was announced, who are all taking a wait and see now. Especially the game pricing seems to be too much for them. I think Nintendo will have to lower their game prices before too long.

This is Europe though. Going from €60 to €80 and even €90 is a whole nother ball game than $60 to $70.

Edit: talking about pricing, nobody is online enough to know about backlash.

 

[LoneRanger]

First 4 months sales (from June to September) are from enthusiastic gamers who want to upgrade from its Switch 1 as soon as possible.

They have 2 more Directs to announce more software to convince any gamer to purchase a Switch 2 this holiday season.

June/September Directs are important

 

[RDragon]

Like others said, it will do fine in the beginning. But anecdotally I know a bunch of people who were all in on Switch 1 and said they'd get the Switch 2 first thing when it was announced, who are all taking a wait and see now. Especially the game pricing seems to be too much for them. I think Nintendo will have to lower their game prices before too long.

This is Europe though. Going from €60 to €80 and even €90 is a whole nother ball game than $60 to $70.

Edit: talking about pricing, nobody is online enough to know about backlash.

When it comes to gaming, I really don’t believe people are as price conscious as they claimed. Otherwise, the Series S would be a massive seller at $300 and MS had no $70 games until 2023.

As for the Switch, the most popular model is the OLED at $350 and never price cut. As for the Switch’s software, people are still paying full price for Breath of the Wild, MK8, ACNH, and DK Returns which is a vanilla Wii Remake. Sure $60 isn’t the same as $70/80, but it stands out given how fast price drops happens everywhere and the Switch doesn’t bundle its DLC, so you’re already paying over $80 for games like Xenoblade Chronicles 2/3 and Smash if you want everything.

 

[Thiefcoal]

It's going to be just sound and fury. If people really cared about prices and being "pro consumer" then Xbox would be popular. IP is king.

 

[Sorbete]

Pokemon fans went from needing to buy a $150 console and $30 games to a $300-350 console and $60 games in what? 10 years? If the games are there and Nintendo can keep the interest the console then prices won't make much difference

 

[AruanaRiva]

Pokemon fans went from needing to buy a $150 console and $30 games to a $300-350 console and $60 games in what? 10 years? If the games are there and Nintendo can keep the interest the console then prices won't make much difference

Nintendo i believe as usual will provide cheaper alternative Switch 2 when exclusive Switch 2 pokemon drop. They are going to find way to make cheaper Switch 2 for mass price concious audience.