Finally, there is concrete information about the Switch 2, although with quite a few caveats, as slowly becomes apparent after the Direct. Sometimes, Nintendo increases the costs for games significantly, but that is not the only downside of the new pricing model.
What happened? On April 2, 2025, Nintendo streamed a comprehensive Direct (via Youtube) about the Nintendo Switch 2, the successor to the Nintendo Switch. The console was showcased intensively, new features were presented, and initial games were announced.
In addition to the new mouse feature of the Joy-Cons, the new chat, and the release date, the pre-orders were also announced. Particularly noteworthy, aside from the new price for the console, are the costs for the new games: We knew that a car game would raise prices in gaming for everyone: But it’s not GTA 6, it’s the damn Mario Kart
Following the Direct, several other issues also came to light that make the increased prices even worse.
Here you can watch the aforementioned Mario Kart World in the trailer:
Download despite physical version and 20 Euros more per game
Digital games cost 20 Euros more: One first sticking point is that digital games for the Switch 2 are already more expensive. The new Mario Kart World costs 79.99 Euros digitally, which is 20 Euros more than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Switch (via Nintendo).
Even more expensive physically: The physical version of the game costs another 10 Euros more, namely 89.99 Euros.
On Nintendo’s website, the prices of digital games cannot currently be viewed, however, all physical versions of, for example, Donkey Kong Bananza
, Kirby and the Forgotten Land
, and Super Mario Party Jamboree
according to the listings at MediaMarkt and Saturn at the time of this news also cost 79.99 Euros each.
This is cheaper than the physical Mario Kart World, but still more expensive than standard AAA Switch 1 games.
Download despite physical version: The next sticking point is that despite physical games now costing more and Nintendo promoting the increased read speed of their cartridges, some of them still cannot be obtained physically
. According to the American support page, there will be games that will be delivered on game key cards.
This means that games must be downloaded from the internet even if a physical version has been purchased. For this, an account in the online shop is probably required. According to Nintendo, the cartridge still needs to be inserted for the game to run.
It is currently unclear whether all games are affected: Box art from, for example, the American version of Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
(via Walmart) clearly indicates that a download is needed. However, the American version of Mario Kart World (via Walmart) does not specify this.
Annoying individually, but bad in combination
MeinMMO editor Sophia Weiß states: It has long been suspected that at the latest with GTA 6 prices for video games would skyrocket. This is also addressed by MeinMMO author Christos Tsogos in his news about the new price of Mario Kart World.
However, it is new that the physical version of the games is more expensive than the digital one. And particularly troubling is that due to the at least partially required downloads, sharing or even passing on these games becomes impossible:
Yes, those who are part of a family plan via Nintendo Online can share games with other members under strict conditions. But even physical games with download become firmly tied to a Nintendo account.
One cannot simply lend, sell, or gift a game purchased in stores anymore. The system, as promoted by PlayStation during PS4 times (via Youtube), is no longer possible. You not only pay more but are tied to a physical game just like to a digital one.
Of course: PlayStation has, for example, games that now only come with a download code in their box. However, it is worth waiting for sales in the shop for PS4 and PS5. Even AAA games are often discounted by 75% or more.
Yes, Nintendo also holds sales. However, especially the popular first-party games are rarely discounted, often not at all. The 2017 released The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild
, for example, still costs 69.99 Euros (via Nintendo Shop) and was at least 48.99 Euros expensive according to price trackers Deku Deals and PS Prices all the time.
Especially with Nintendo, the trade in physical editions is flourishing accordingly. This could radically change with the download requirement for physical games and could give a boost to emulator developers and product pirates.
And on top of that, there are still players in 2025 who have poor or no internet access. Playing a game with a 50-gigabyte download is no fun if it regularly crashes or takes over 24 hours. Sometimes you just want to plug in the game, install it, and start playing.
Individually, the changes to Nintendo’s pricing policy are annoying but not a deal-breaker. However, the combination of the various factors turns individual annoyances into a major issue.
Currently, the new Mario Kart World is the game with the highest known price. Perhaps this is why it is the first Switch 2 bundle: Without the game, the Switch 2 costs 469.99 Euros, with it 509.99 Euros. The additional price for Mario Kart World digitally is therefore 40 Euros. The perhaps cheapest version in which the game will ever be available.
Of course, not everything about the Nintendo Switch 2 is bad. Especially the new Joy-Con features are super exciting. The announced game catalog includes some AAA games from recent years as well as of course new Nintendo titles. If you want to read what has been announced, you can consult our live ticker for the Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 on the Direct: Everything you missed at the event
