"Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive Games Ease Price Shock, Says Ex-PlayStation Boss"

The former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment America, Shawn Layden, recently shared his perspective on the pricing controversy surrounding Nintendo's Switch 2. Last week, Nintendo revealed that the Switch 2 will retail at $449.99, slightly higher than anticipated, and that some games, including the highly anticipated Mario Kart World, will be priced at $79.99—a significant $10 increase from previous titles. To sweeten the deal, Nintendo is offering a limited-time bundle that includes the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World for $499.99, effectively reducing the game's cost by $30. However, the uncertainty around tariffs and pre-order delays in the U.S. might affect this bundle's price.

In an appearance on the PlayerDriven YouTube channel and podcast, Layden discussed the unique position of Nintendo's exclusive games. He contrasted Nintendo's strategy with those of Sony and Microsoft, noting that while the latter two are increasingly releasing their games on PCs and rival consoles, Nintendo remains steadfast in keeping its titles exclusive to its own hardware.

Layden pointed out the allure of Nintendo's exclusive titles as a factor that helps justify the higher prices: "But if it’s the only place where you can play Mario, then you get your wallet out and you buy into it... and Donkey Kong and Zelda. That first-party exclusivity kind of mitigates the sticker shock, if you will, of these price hikes, because you want that content so bad."

Here's a detailed look at the pricing for the Nintendo Switch 2 and its related products in the U.S.:

Nintendo Switch 2 by itself: $449.99 Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundled in: $499.99 Mario Kart World by itself: $79.99 Donkey Kong Bananza: $69.99 Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: $79.99 Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: $49.99 Joy-Con 2 Controller pair: $89.99 Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip: $34.99 Joy-Con 2 Strap: $12.99 Joy-Con 2 Wheel pair: $19.99 Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set: $109.99 Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector: $34.99 Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case: $79.99 Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter: $29.99

Layden also touched on the broader topic of video game pricing, suggesting that game prices should have increased incrementally with each console generation. He argued that if game prices had risen by $5 per generation, they would be around $90 today, factoring in inflation.

"In 2025 dollars, $59.99 in 1999 is equivalent to $100. Your purchasing power compared to your cost of living, it's much smaller now than it was before, but still companies have been reluctant to push that price up," Layden explained.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

7 ImagesThis week, IGN interviewed Bill Trinen, Vice President of Product and Player Experience at Nintendo of America, at a Switch 2 preview event in New York. Trinen justified the $80 price tag for Mario Kart World by emphasizing the game's extensive content and value, teasing more details to be revealed in an upcoming dedicated Nintendo Direct.

“I would say it's less about the strategy of pricing Mario Kart World, it's more just whenever we look at a given game, we just look at what is the experience, and what's the content, and what's the value?” Trinen said.

He acknowledged concerns about the lack of discoveries in the game but encouraged fans to watch the upcoming Mario Kart Direct for more insights: “Mario Kart World, I think especially as you see from the Nintendo Direct, not to give you any hints or anything, but I did read your article this morning and I think you had mentioned that you didn’t find a lot to discover when roaming around. So I would say tune into our Mario Kart Direct to see what, maybe you'll be able to find out about that.

“But honestly, this is a game that is so big and so vast and you will find so many little things in it to discover. And there's still some other secrets remaining that I think as people end up buying and playing the game, they're going to find this to be probably the richest Mario Kart experience they've ever had.”

Regarding the $80 price for other Switch 2 Edition games, Trinen emphasized Nintendo's approach to pricing based on the value and content of each game. He highlighted that while there's a $10 upgrade path for existing owners, and certain games are included in the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, new buyers will pay full price.

“Well, again, what I would say is that we just look at each individual game and we look at the content and the value of that game, and then we say, 'what is the right price for the value of this entertainment?' " Trinen explained.

He further clarified the pricing model for the Switch 2 Edition games: “What I would probably counter to some of that is that really what you're looking at is for the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, that's the physical price for somebody that has not bought the base game. For somebody who has bought Tears of the Kingdom or Breath of the Wild, the upgrade packs for those are $9.99. And if you happen to be a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack member, both of the Zelda upgrade packs are inclusive within that membership. So there's no additional charge for those.

“But I think overall, our general approach is really just focus on what's the content, what's the value, and what's an appropriate price based on that.”

“But I think any time you're building a new system that's got new features and new tech, there's costs associated with that. So again, we look at what is the experience on Nintendo Switch? What's the experience on Nintendo Switch 2? What are the new features that it offers? And certainly there's the cost of goods and things that factor into that, but we try to find the right appropriate price for a product based on that.”

As IGN has reported, some Nintendo fans are worried about being priced out of the next generation due to the tariff situation and the already high prices set for the Switch 2 and its games like Mario Kart World.