Fans argue if Nintendo deserves „benefit of the doubt” with Switch 2

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In recent discussions on the Nintendo subreddit, fans have been debating whether or not to place blame on Nintendo following the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct held on April 2nd. While there’s excitement over original FromSoftware games on the system, as well as glimpses of Hollow Knight: Silksong and Donkey Kong: Bananza, some fans are displeased with the $80 price tag for Mario Kart World. The Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, an event that many felt should be complimentary, is actually priced at $10, and the increased cost of accessories has also raised concerns.

Nintendo fans come to terms with how they should react to Switch 2 prices

Due to recent global tariffs imposed by the U.S. government, fans are now grappling with their feelings towards Nintendo. The Switch 2 pre-orders in the U.S. have been delayed while many anticipate a price increase for the new console. With higher priced consoles and games setting new records, it’s becoming harder for some fans to justify the purchase. Finding an answer as to whether to blame or defend Nintendo isn’t straightforward.

In a Reddit post by u/razorbeamz, titled “We’re not ‘defending a multi billion dollar company.’,” the author argues that people who are more neutral towards Nintendo’s actions are often accused of defending them. Instead, they suggest that phrases such as “Giving Nintendo the benefit of the doubt” or “showing interest in something despite its flaws” might be used. The post asserts that these viewpoints do not equate to “defending Nintendo.” Rather, they represent a reasonable opinion that is not upset or biased. However, not all commenters fully agreed with this perspective.

The problem with corporations

The post on Reddit is garnering significantly more comments than upvotes, which is quite unusual. At this moment, it has close to 900 comments compared to around 230 upvotes. Notably, many top comments question the assumption “Giving Nintendo the benefit of the doubt…” One user, u/ned_poreyra, argues that since Nintendo is a publicly traded corporation, it doesn’t possess values, personality, or preferences. Instead, it prioritizes its financial interests above all else, as emphasized by the user. Over time, Nintendo has earned goodwill from customers through excellent game production; however, they are currently pushing the boundaries of that goodwill.

A different user, u/Default_Dragon, commented: “…it’s unwise to automatically trust corporations, they are inherently selfish and aim to make as much profit as possible from their customers or clients… However, I have fond feelings towards Nintendo, but I must say, it isn’t the same Nintendo of Reggie and Iwata. Recently, certain issues have been challenging the idea that Nintendo is a friendly video game company for many people.”

The user suggests that corporations are naturally self-centered and focused on making money from their customers, and they question whether this is true for Nintendo due to recent controversies.

The peripheral costs of the Switch 2 add up

As a dedicated Nintendo gamer, what’s always captivated me about the console and its games is their accessibility. The Nintendo Switch, being the most affordable among the big three consoles, wasn’t perfect for running high-end triple A games, but with gems like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and various Pokémon games in its library, it’s simple to understand why fans stay loyal. Initially, the announced $449.99 price tag (which may no longer apply for U.S. buyers like me) was a bit of a surprise. Alone, it wasn’t too excessive, but when you factor in an additional $80 for Mario Kart and $90 for an extra pair of Joy-Cons, the costs start to feel unreasonable rather quickly.

The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is marketed as a larger, more potent successor to the original Switch. It boasts a fresh installment of the popular game, Mario Kart, employs a camera for immersive gaming experiences, updates various top-tier Switch games, allows GameCube titles to be played, and enables multiplayer fun whether your friends are seated beside you or miles away. Sounds fantastic, right? However, it’s essential to know that every feature mentioned in this advertisement is an extra cost option, not included with the standard console package.

Let’s crunch the numbers. The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 will retail for $450. If you wish to play the latest Mario Kart, that brings the price up to either $500 for the digital-only bundle or $530 for a physical one. From there, you have several choices. You might have online friends with whom you’d like to play, or perhaps local friends to game with in person. If you opt for online gaming, you’ll need an NSO subscription, which will set you back $20 or $50 per year depending on your plan. To access GameCube games, you’re required to subscribe to the higher-tier plan costing $50 annually. Luckily, Switch 1 Joy-Cons are compatible with the new console, so you won’t necessarily need to spend extra for friends to join in locally – but that does mean you must have previously owned the original console. An additional $10 is needed if you wish to upgrade any Switch 1 games via Nintendo Life. The costs can quickly accumulate. To enjoy everything as initially proposed, it could easily reach close to $700, including annual subscriptions.

Nintendo hasn’t earned the benefit of the doubt

The crucial point to remember is that all these price estimates don’t include tariffs yet. This means the console might end up costing more than $450 for American buyers, and there’s a concern that this increased cost could also affect the games and accessories. Although it’s easy to criticize the U.S. government for their questionable decisions affecting everyone, including the gaming community, it’s worth noting that Nintendo’s prices were relatively high even before these tariffs provided an excuse.

As a gamer myself, I’ve come to accept that we can’t count on Nintendo to lower their prices. In fact, they might even rise. Just take a look at the Nintendo eShop – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, an eight-year-old port of a Wii U game, is still going for $60. Now, I’m not here to criticize Nintendo for being a business that aims to make profits, but let’s not forget that their ultimate goal is exactly that: making money.

On June 5th, 2025, we’ll finally get the sales figures for pre-orders and learn about the console’s reception – the global launch date remains set for then, although there have been some delays in pre-orders.

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2025-04-09 00:32