Many players are concerned about rising prices in gaming. An analyst has predicted that GTA 6 could set new standards for the pricing of new titles, but now Nintendo has moved faster. With the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2, prices for new games across the market could rise.
What has Nintendo revealed? On April 2nd, the Nintendo Direct took place, where primarily the new console “Nintendo Switch 2” was introduced. In addition to the console, new games were also revealed. Fans have now inquired on Nintendo’s site about the prices of the games and found that the Japanese company has significantly raised its prices (via nintendo.de).
This is surprising, because back in January an analyst reported on a new possible price trend for games, which was expected to be set not by Nintendo, but by Rockstar with GTA 6.
The price increase could potentially change the gaming industry now if other companies follow suit.
Games are getting expensive – Nintendo leads the way
How expensive are the new titles expected to be? According to Nintendo’s official site, 2 new games have already been priced: Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza – the former has a new price tag that could potentially blow some budgets. They are pricing them by edition as follows:
- Mario Kart World
- Digital: 79.99 €
- Physical: 89.99 €
Considering that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Switch 1 only costs 59.99 €, this is a significant increase. Even console titles like Black Ops 6 at 79.99 € seem outdated in comparison.
With this new pricing strategy, other developers might finally feel encouraged to raise their prices, as the market has remained relatively stable, especially regarding game pricing.
The pain threshold for AAA titles is actually around $70, which is approximately 80 €, just like with Black Ops 6.
Why should prices be raised? According to analyst Matthew Ball, this is primarily because the gaming market does not look rosy. Many “Black Hole” games are currently being developed that aim to keep fans engaged for a long time – these include Fortnite, Call of Duty, and GTA Online. The market is tapped out.
To survive in the current situation, prices must be adjusted; otherwise, in the worst case, layoffs could threaten, Ball believes.
Since GTA is a huge brand and is expected by many gamers worldwide, Ball anticipated a price increase here. But now that Nintendo has taken the step with Mario Kart, it is only a matter of time before other companies follow suit. You can find out more about GTA 6 here: Even the biggest publishers are afraid of the release of GTA 6: “A huge meteor”
