Nintendo Switch Game Prices Are A Joke

[Deleted member 34239]

I picked up a switch again after getting rid of mine shortly after launch and honestly, I'm completely shocked at the relatively minor progress that has been made with regards to store pricing and OS improvements. This system is supposed to be an "affordable system" but it offers the highest cost of ownership along with the worst value proposition I've seen in a Nintendo device for a very long time. Where I live, the Switch costs about $379.99 before tax which puts it on par with both the ps4 and the xbox one. Both of those consoles can be found at cheaper prices or bundled with more items to increase the value proposition. The same cannot be said about the switch. In fact, just last week, the xbox one x could be purchased for $469.99 before tax. For an additional $90(the cost of a 400gb micro sd card), you could purchase an Xbox One X. Yes, let that sink in for a moment. Now, I'm not going to mention the "optional/recommended" accessories because that will create an unnecessary tangent that steers us off topic. In fact, lets just ignore the cost of the hardware completely.

Let's look at the OS instead. Party chat, folders, media apps, web browser, custom themes, etc are some of the features that are either completely missing or lacking on the switch. When I initially purchased the system at launch, it felt barebones to me. Almost 2 years later, it's like nothing has changed. It still feels barebones and lacking in many ways. I could go on and on and on but, lets ignore the OS and talk about the games.

• Mario Kart 8, a port of a Wii U game = $79.99
• Skyrim in 2019 = $79.99
• Dark Souls Remastered in 2019 = $49.99
• Saints Row 3 in 2019 = $49.99
• Payday 2 in 2019 = $63.99

I mean, Nintendo must be having a laugh. Imagine paying that much money for old games and in many cases, paying significantly more for worse performance? It truly is a terrible joke and Nintendo need to sort it out. I recently picked up a switch again and when I initially picked it up, I purchased maybe 3-4 games digitally. At this rate, I'll purchase maybe 1-2 more games before the system hits it EOL.

 

[Deleted member 16876]

This won't end well but you have my sword OP.

 

[PROh1bited]

Only one of those games you listed is made by Nintendo

 

[Deleted member 18502]

This money could have been spent on union dues at a major American airline.

 

[ajszenk]

You aren't wrong, but people keep buying them so they keep the prices up. It's how Nintendo has always been and how Nintendo will likely always be OP.

 

[BlueStarEXSF]

I agree with you OP.

 

[Jorden1506]

Those prices are insane and probably more a factor of where you life and the taxes. Also I never heard Nintendo promoting it as an affordable system they used the 3ds for that.

 

[--R]

Why would Nintendo be responsible for the price of third-party games? Only MK8 is from them in that list.

 

[PopsMaellard]

All of the non-Nintendo games you listed have had or will have price drops and sales consistently. You can get Dark Souls for $32 at Target right now, for example.

Nintendo's stuff though, yeah. It's a bummer.

 

[Kouriozan]

3rd parties have the freedom to price their games how they want, and they saw people buying 26 years old games at 40€ (USF2) so they all went, why not me?
Capcom is especially bad, also almost all their games are digital only in EU when they have retail release in the USA.

 

[sensui-tomo]

Are these CAD prices? I've seen most complaints about costs and games come from Canada as of this gen, did something happen some years back?

 

[Cess007]

I mean, you're right about Nintendo games, but I think you could use better games as example, as those are mostly 3rd party games.

 

[Toumari]

I guess people buy them anyway, so publishers see no reason to price them comparatively to Xbox/Playstation.

 

[Aprikurt]

You didn't research the OS updates of a $250 system before you bought it... again??

 

[atom519]

Four of those games are not published by Nintendo. Not sure where you are at, but here in the states you can regularly find the console itself for ~$269 at various retail outlets.

 

[Hailinel]

Like Nintendo cares what Bethesda, Bandai Namco, and THQ Nordic charge for their own games?

 

[Manu]

This money could have been spent on union dues at a major American airline.

Click to shrink...

I understood that reference.

 

[Kyuuji]

I'm all digital on the Switch with over 100 titles so I feel you on how it can be expensive. I find the sales to often be pretty good outside of Nintendo games though, and now at least there's the tickets to chip those down a bit.

The convenience and quality of the system means I'm happy to pay the extra to get the games on it. Not sure I've seen it pitched as the 'affordable system' but could have missed that.

 

[Goodbye]

Good stuff comes at a price.

 

[AndrewGPK]

You aren't wrong, but people keep buying them so they keep the prices up. It's how Nintendo has always been and how Nintendo will likely always be OP.

Click to shrink...

Yep. The demand is still there at the higher prices so there is no incentive for Nintendo and other publishers to decrease the price of the supply.

People seem to be willing to pay more, perhaps for the portability.

 

[ThankDougie]

Are these CAD prices? I've seen most complaints about costs and games come from Canada as of this gen, did something happen some years back?

Click to shrink...

Was about to ask the same question.

MK8D is 59.99 US and eligible for one of those vouchers to boot

 

[Deleted member 249]

Okay, so:

• Nintendo does not promote the Switch as an affordable system
• Only one of the games in the OP is a Nintendo game
• The Switch OS is stupidly blazing fast, and that's what I care about more than anything on a game system, so I would rather sacrifice media apps and shit

 

[PirateKingERA]

Where are you getting those prices from? The Switch is 299$ before tax ie and Mario Kart is 59.99$ not 79.99$, is it just exaggeration to make a point ?

 

[Saint-14]

Yes, yes they are.

 

[Deleted member 249]

Where are you getting those prices from? The Switch is 299$ before tax ie and Mario Kart is 59.99$ not 79.99$, is it just exaggeration to make a point ?

Click to shrink...

Canadian pricing

 

[Hamster Plugin]

Nintendo Switch is a premium system for premium customers. It's not for poor people.

 

[PirateKingERA]

Okay, so:

• Nintendo does not promote the Switch as an affordable system
• Only one of the games in the OP is a Nintendo game
• The Switch OS is stupidly blazing fast, and that's what I care about more than anything on a game system, so I would rather sacrifice media apps and shit

Click to shrink...

But, but, Netflix!

 

[Thizzles]

Yep cause im sure nintendo sets prices of all the games on its store...even ones not made by them....and i never see switches being sold for almost 400 dollars.

 

[krae_man]

Are these CAD prices? I've seen most complaints about costs and games come from Canada as of this gen, did something happen some years back?

Click to shrink...

Yes those are Canadian prices. Our dollar tanked. Prices went up 30%, wages did not.

There's still deals if you know where to look. There have been plenty of preorders of top tier games available for $50 and $60 from amazon.ca and Walmart.ca over the past few years for example.

 

[Hippopuncher12]

You're right and its one of the reasons I don't buy multiplats on Switch. Nintendo made games I have just accepted the fact that they will be full price for 2 years so I just bite the bullet.

 

[Hamster Plugin]

Yep cause im sure nintendo sets prices of all the games on its store...even ones not made by them....and i never see switches being sold for almost 400 dollars.

Click to shrink...

They're in Canadian dollars.

 

[PirateKingERA]

Canadian pricing

Click to shrink...

Ah should have mentioned that in the OP then rather than just put numbers like that, he just said where I live and then put a $ sign.

 

[Skittzo]

They don't set the prices of third party games but yeah their first party games don't drop in price. Until they become selects or whatever.

 

[pronk]

Where are those prices from? Digital prices for retail games are way higher here.

 

[N.47H.4N]

Just wait the amazing sales with crazy discounts of 15% ~ 30%

 

[Figgles]

They still sell. Having portable Skyrim and Dark Souls has been tempting to me, even at the high prices.

 

[Radishhead]

The games sell for what people pay for them.

 

[PirateKingERA]

Yep cause im sure nintendo sets prices of all the games on its store...even ones not made by them....and i never see switches being sold for almost 400 dollars.

Click to shrink...

299$ as a price for the switch is good imo, I don't see that as overpriced at all.

 

[Mezati99]

it blows my goddamn mind more people aren't complaining about this

 

[Deleted member 249]

Yeah, the other thing is games on Switch very clearly still sell in spite of those high prices. At that point, what incentive is there for a publisher to drop the price?

If the games are not worth that price to you, just don't buy them.

 

[CaviarMeths]

MK8 is gonna sell like 25m copies lifetime at that price. The rest aren't Nintendo games.

Yes those are Canadian prices. Our dollar tanked. Prices went up 30%, wages did not.

Click to shrink...

BuT $80 cAnAdIaN iS $60 uS.

 

[Soapbox Killer]

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is worth it, price be damned.

 

[Scrooge]

There are legitimate criticisms to be made regarding the OS and its features, but people are willing to pay those prices for Nintendo and big 3rd party titles. And, at least in the U.S., there are frequent sales for indie and 3rd party games.

 

[MysticGon]

Something about not wanting to devalue the price of the content. Can't really blame them.

 

[LCGeek]

I paid for 82.85 for turok 2 on N64 so what.

prices are fair to you guys these days that was in the 90s and today that be 100+ dollars.

 

[Saint-14]

it blows my goddamn mind more people aren't complaining about this

Click to shrink...

You'll be even more blown away when you find out people actually defend the prices.

 

[Deleted member 42484]

The Switch tax is for:

-cartridge costs
-additional optimization to run on the hardware
-hybrid gaming. Every game is a handheld game now too
-Novelty of hybrid gaming device/games


It annoys me too OP, but I guess I get it. 3rd party games go on aggressive sales too. I grabbed Wolfenstein 2 and Skyrim for far cheaper prices during sales.

 

[MisterHero]

The Switch's value is way better when you sacrifice MS and Sony platforms and you get a PC. Nintendo's games are different enough and good enough to justify their pricing. I'm even thinking of double dipping on games that are on other platfoems, like Mortal Kombat.

You're also ignoring that you need to afford a display capable of even using a Pro/X for their intended purpose. So... lol.

 

[Galactor]

also pokemon is now full price, that is a sacrilege

 

[ghibli99]

Launch prices on most rerelease/remaster games usually make me wince, but they're not that out of line with other platforms. Dark Souls Remastered was recently on sale here in the US for 30% off, which made it $12 cheaper than it is on Steam (or $8 more if you had PtDE already). GCU helped for physical, but since that isn't an option for me anymore, I just occasionally scan eBay or here for used copies (or wait for sales like the B2G1 promo Target does). I just try to exercise patience with games I want that seem a bit too pricey. Almost always, they eventually go on sale.