Pricing for the Nintendo Switch 2 and the console's first games has been revealed, and fans are extremely unhappy about the cost of Nintendo's releases. The company did not speak about prices during Switch 2 Direct; instead, pricing was announced for certain games on Nintendo's website and other retailers shortly after the live stream, leaving players with some sticker shock after seeing what Nintendo plans to charge for old and new games alike.

As of now, Nintendo has only listed prices for Mario Kart World, which costs $80, and Donkey Kong Bananza, which will retail for $70, on its official website. A Reddit post pointed out Walmart listings showing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition costing $69 and the Switch 2 Editions for Tears of the Kingdom and Kirby and the Forgotten Land costing $79 each.

Observers vented in the Reddit thread and other social media platforms. "70 for an 8-year-old game," ooombasa said in reference to Nintendo's price point for the Switch 2 version of Breath of the Wild. Another , _MishMoosh, took it a step further, saying, "70 for a WiiU game." Breath of the Wild initially released in 2017 on both the Switch and the Wii U.

The Cost For Zelda And Kirby Switch 2 Upgrades Are Too Much For Many Fans

Games That Have Previously Released Are Being Offered For High Prices

Overall, the reaction to Switch 2 game prices as seen on Nintendo's website and outside retailers have been largely negative, especially in regards to the Switch 2 upgraded games. It's worth noting that the original Switch version of Tears of the Kingdom currently retails for about $50 on Amazon, meaning Switch 2 early adopters will be paying $30 more for a game they may have already played.

Nintendo is allowing players who already own some of these previous releases the chance to Switch 2 versions, though some players feel they shouldn't have to pay to upgrade at all. While unconfirmed, fans speculate that games offering upgrades and new level content, such as Kirby and the Forgotten Land, will cost $20 to upgrade, while games like Breath of the Wild, which has no new gameplay content but will introduce enhanced visuals (and in the case of the Zelda games, app ), will cost $10.

One fan, zekrom01, summarized player fears well, saying:

Other fans defended Nintendo's pricing by pointing out the updated Switch 2 games are technically not re-releases — they're updated versions with improved graphics and updated mechanics, which justifies the cost. Reddit Fluid-Employee-7118 stated, in part, "You know you can find the regular game for the 60 USD price right? This is the updated version, with some added functionality and improved graphics / performance. They are basically charging 10 USD to update your game."

Our Take: Is This The New Normal For Nintendo And The Games Industry?

Higher Prices May Keep Some Players From Gaming

Players are already dealing with the prospect of most games being priced at $70 upon release, with fears that highly anticipated games like Grand Theft Auto 6 may cost even more. Nintendo seems to be making those fears a reality, taking their pricing plan a step further than that of other companies like Sony and Microsoft. Unlike games released for PlayStation and Xbox, Nintendo rarely discounts games made for its own console, leaving players to either pay full price, wait to grab a game on the secondhand market, or forgo playing new releases altogether.

Fans are not ready to embrace this potential new normal and are wasting no time in making their opinions heard, with one Reddit , hextal_hextal, encouraging players to avoid purchasing the Switch 2 via this humorous post:

Frustration over Nintendo's plans reflects a problem players have with the gaming industry as a whole: everything is getting very expensive, very fast, and eventually, fans will decide enough is enough. Time will tell whether players will reject the Nintendo Switch 2, games, and pricing plans or if FOMO wins out over financial woes.

Source: Walmart, Reddit/ooombasa, Reddit/_MishMoosh, Reddit/eskititethan, , Amazon, Reddit/Fluid-Employee-7118, Reddit/hextal_hextal.