Now that PlayStation and Xbox are currently dismantling themselves, the Nintendo Switch 2 suddenly looks like a good deal. However, this is not necessarily a good sign for gamers.
What is the current situation?
- At Sony, Destiny 2 has been scrapped and additionally, it has been explained that they want to move away from physical media for the PlayStation. Moreover, it is announced that PlayStation will fully rely on artificial intelligence in the future.
- At Xbox, major layoffs have been announced, many studios are being spun off, dissolved, and projects are being canceled. There are big question marks behind the next Xbox console.
- Both the PS5 and the Xbox Series X/S have also become significantly more expensive in recent months.
Many players feel uncertain and do not know if they should still invest in a gaming console today or switch to PC instead. Because the possible future is anything but secure.
On the other hand, the situation for Nintendo and its Switch 2 is better, and the not-so-new console suddenly looks like a good deal. However, there are also issues here that should not be overlooked.
Nintendo: Few experiments when it comes to games and hardware
The Japanese company behind the Switch relies little on experiments, but instead on things that have been working for years: Brands like Pokémon and Zelda belong to it, but also a Super Mario movie that has earned millions.
Nintendo has also managed over the years to establish close ties between its brands and players. This starts on the playground with the then GameBoy and today’s Switch and continues into adulthood.
Furthermore: The Nintendo Switch 2 is said to have also been a huge success. In the first few days alone, 3.5 million consoles are said to have been sold, with an estimated 17 million by the end of December 2025.
In summary, Nintendo did not have to make mass layoffs or put important projects on hold, unlike what happened at Sony or Microsoft/Xbox. Because unlike Sony or Microsoft, Nintendo has not burned money on projects that eventually turned out to be flops.
These are at least good news from an economic perspective. However, from a gaming perspective, the situation is not so rosy.
Game Key Cards, high prices, and lawsuits
With its so-called “Game Key Cards”, Nintendo has already taken a similar path as Sony: The cartridges now only contain licenses, and you must fully download the game via the shop. With the Game Key Cards, they have not made many friends among players.
Moreover, Nintendo has also increased the prices for its consoles, just like Sony and Xbox. Nintendo is affected by US tariffs and rising hardware prices just like other companies, games and consoles are getting more expensive and you have to pay more for games in retail than online.
A third point is the lawsuits with which Nintendo is rigorously going after the competition. Whether it’s private fan projects that Nintendo feels threatened by or commercial projects like Palworld, where the legal dispute is still ongoing.
Nintendo has a certain reputation and a granite fan base that defends the company and for whom Nintendo basically develops the games directly. The Japanese company knows what its players want and delivers just that – the fans, in turn, buy the products, even at a high price. For comparison:
- The Switch 2 was priced at 469.99 Euros at release; games typically cost 79.99 Euros.
- After a price increase, you now pay 499.99 Euros for the Switch 2; the latest Mario Kart is also at 89.99 Euros, a new price record for Nintendo.
- The PS5 launched at 499.99 Euros; however, it now costs 649 Euros – games are at 79.99 Euros.
- At Xbox, a similar picture: The Xbox Series X (1 TB) cost 499.99 Euros at release and is priced at 749.99 Euros as of August 1.
That the Nintendo Switch 2 now looks like a good deal is more a result of the lesser evil. The Switch and its games were previously considered expensive and do not seem so anymore, only because the competition from Sony and Xbox has become even more expensive.
Another important point: Nintendo does not offer discounts for its in-house games, and there is a good reason for this. The former US head of Nintendo explains why this is the case and why according to him players should benefit: Nintendo does not offer discounts for its games; a longtime employee reveals why
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