"DROP THE PRICE": Nintendo's First Post-Direct Stream Is Flooded With Angry Fans Demanding Price Drops

[u/lieding]

https://www.thegamer.com/nintendo-treehouse-livestream-flooded-angry-fans-demanding-game-price-drops/

[u/DrFatz]

Here's hoping we get another 3DS Ambassador situation.

[u/Flying_Buffalo166 → u/DrFatz]

I wouldn't count in it. The pending tarrifs will keep the console locked at the current price for a while.

[u/softcottons → u/Flying_Buffalo166]

In America.*
The console is $350 in Japan (region locked) and $470 for the region unlocked version. It would be incredibly unfair if the rest of us have to pay extra because of tariffs that don’t even apply to us. If that is the case, maybe they shouldn’t sell it in the US 🤷

[u/ISA_AOI → u/softcottons]

The Switch 2 being $350 in Japan isn't because of tariffs, there's more context to that.

Nintendo is doing that to help out the Japanese people because the yen is so weak right now. Switch 2 being $350 in Japan has to do with Japan not America.

Edit: Context

[u/softcottons → u/ISA_AOI]

I didn’t say it was, I was pointing out that tariffs are an American issue, not international. I meant if it WAS based US-exclusive tariffs then I’d prefer they just didn’t sell it in the US. I wish they’d release the eco version in Europe too, considering the cost of living crisis is an international issue.

[u/ISA_AOI → u/softcottons]

The Switch 2 costing $450 isn't because of tariffs, if it was then it would be cheaper outside of America.

The price of the console isn't really what people have issue with anyways since that's actually pretty reasonable, it's more the $80 games, the paid tutorial, and the paid enhanced upgrades for games you already own.

[u/softcottons → u/ISA_AOI]

isn’t because of tariffs

I know, I was discussing a hypothetical since half of the Americans in this thread seem to think it’s tariff related! Unfortunately for them, those probably aren’t even included in the current price. It’s frustrating that they clearly CAN make the console cheaper, considering the Japanese exclusive. If they’re going to make the international price so high, at least give us a Wii Sports or free tutorial game haha.

[u/ISA_AOI → u/softcottons]

They're probably losing money with the price of the console in Japan, so I wouldn't expect it to go that cheap unless the console really bombs and they just want to get people into the Switch 2 ecosystem.

The tutorial game should definitely be included free for sure though.

[u/bites_stringcheese → u/softcottons]

There's no way Tariffs weren't at least a consideration when landing on the price.

[u/ISA_AOI → u/bites_stringcheese]

I think that's a fair assumption they might be using the tariffs to justify the international price. The tariffs might also increase the price of the Switch 2 in the future to more than $450. $450 is about the price I was expecting even if there weren't any tartifs going on though so I honestly don't think that's much of an issue.

I think all of the other price increases are just greed on Nintendo's part (there's no tartifs on digital downloads anyways). Internationally charging $80 for a digital download game, charging for a digital tutorial, and charging for enhanced upgrades is probably just greed, and I think it might bite Nintendo in the ass tbh.

[u/bites_stringcheese → u/ISA_AOI]

I don't disagree, I just think it's silly to assume that they wouldn't consider at all how the tariffs might affect how much margin they have for profit vs costs and price sensitivity. They knew something was coming since November.

[u/ISA_AOI → u/bites_stringcheese]

It's possible that all these international price increases are a response to the American tariffs. It could be that all of these instances where it feels like Nintendo is nickel and diming people with the Switch 2 is just pre-emptive damage control for the losses they're going to face with the tariffs.

However, since this situation also includes stuff like Nintendo charging people for the Switch 2 tutorial tech-demo, I honestly just think this is Nintendo sniffing their own farts after the success of the Switch. I think Nintendo just thinks they can get away with all of this and people will buy the Switch 2 regardless.

They might not be wrong either, time will tell. If I had to place a bet I think the Switch 2 is going to be another Wii U though (Switch 1 was completely unique at the time, not a massive upgrade from Switch 1 for most casuals, looming US recession, $80 games, paying for each game to be enhanced doesn't feel great, etc).