Every First-Party Nintendo Switch 2 Game Will Cost $70 or $80 – Even the Old Ones
Nintendo has officially embraced a new pricing standard for its upcoming Switch 2 console, confirming that all first-party titles – including enhanced versions of older games – will retail for between $70 and $80.
The price hike was revealed during the company’s Switch 2 unveiling, with launch titles such as Mario Kart World set at $80. Other enhanced re-releases, like Super Mario Party Jamboree, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, will also carry the higher price tag. Even Breath of the Wild, initially launched in 2017, will now cost $70 in its reissued form for the new console.
While third-party titles will maintain more varied pricing, they reflect similar shifts. Street Fighter 6, bundled with two season passes, is priced at $60. Square Enix’s remastered Bravely Default will retail for $40, the same price as its original 2013 3DS release. Interestingly, both titles will be distributed on empty physical cards that function as digital license keys.
The increase in game prices appears to be driven by multiple factors. Nintendo says the upgrades to older titles for the Switch 2’s improved hardware justify the higher costs. Similar to remastered versions on rival platforms like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, these titles will feature enhanced graphics, resolution, and framerate. However, unlike Microsoft – which typically offers upgrades for free – and Sony, which charges a flat $10 fee, Nintendo’s upgrade strategy is less transparent and may vary depending on the added content.
Some Switch 2 re-releases, such as Super Mario Odyssey and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, will offer free performance patches. But upgraded editions of Tears of the Kingdom, Jamboree, and Civilization VII will come with new “Switch 2 Edition” labels and additional costs. Though Nintendo hasn’t confirmed exact upgrade fees, price jumps between $10 and $20 across generations suggest a tiered model based on content depth.
Industry experts also point to inflation and global trade dynamics as underlying reasons for the price surge. According to U.S. inflation data, a $70 game in 2021 would equate to roughly $75–$80 in 2025. Meanwhile, steep tariffs on imports from Japan and Vietnam – where Nintendo currently manufactures the Switch 2 – may have prompted the company to raise game prices to offset costs. The U.S. recently imposed a 24% duty on goods from Japan and 46% on Vietnamese imports, exacerbating financial pressure.
Although some fans have criticized the pricing model, analysts believe it’s a calculated move by Nintendo amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Building consoles domestically to dodge tariffs is also unrealistic, with analysts like Daniel Ahmad estimating it could take years and still result in higher production costs.
As the console’s release approaches, the industry will be watching closely to see whether other game publishers follow Nintendo’s lead – or if consumers push back against the new norm.
