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Former PlayStation Head Comments on Nintendo Switch 2 Price

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On April 10, 2025

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Summary

Former PlayStation boss discusses Nintendo Switch 2 game price hikes.
Nintendo Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World will have much more expensive price tags than their Switch 1 counterparts.
Fans debate whether increased prices are justified or a cash grab.

Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden has spoken out about the price tag for the Nintendo Switch 2 and its roster of exclusive titles from the gaming giant’s legendary catalog. While the modern gaming console market is dominated by a few major players, that doesn’t mean there isn’t intense competition between them, especially when it comes to pricing. For many gamers, cost can be the deciding factor in which system they choose, and Nintendo Switch 2 games look set to become increasingly costly investments.

It’s been just under a decade since Nintendo dropped the original Switch console, and with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 drawing closer, its game pricing is beginning to face scrutiny from some. The Switch 2 is slated for worldwide release on June 5, but many of its iconic games come with hefty price tags.

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Games Might Come With a Catch

The physical versions of Nintendo Switch 2 re-releases of Switch 1 games, like Zelda: Breath of the Wild, may come with an unexpected catch.

In a recent interview with PlayerDriven on YouTube, former PlayStation head Shawn Layden commented on the price hikes related to exclusive Nintendo titles set to launch on the upcoming Switch 2. Layden stated that while the cost is a hefty jump from the prices players were paying for games on the original Switch console, he believes Nintendo’s rich and hugely popular collection of IPs will drive many players to pay up for the games. He noted that the Switch 2 is the only place gamers can play classic titles like Mario, Donkey Kong, and Zelda.

In the interview, Layden singled out the price increase for Mario Kart World on the Nintendo Switch 2, which has been announced at $80 for the digital version and $90 for a hard copy, which is a $20 to $30 bump compared to the price of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While the team behind Mario Kart World believes the extra dollars are justified, many fans disagree with this assessment.

In a separate recent interview, Nintendo of America’s VP of Product and Player Experience defended the expensive price tag for Mario Kart World, citing the game’s vast open-world design, abundance of content, and boosted graphical performance as valid reasons for the cost increase for the next iteration of the iconic franchise. However, for some fans, the significant price hike feels more like a cash grab than a justified price point.

Nintendo’s next-generation console price has also faced its share of backlash. It’s set to retail at $500, which is a whopping $150 more than the original Switch. What’s more, with the recent Trump administration tariffs, the Nintendo Switch 2’s price could rise as high as $529. However, the exact consequences of the tariffs on the end price of the console are yet to be seen. For now, players who want to access many of Nintendo’s classic games on the Switch 2 may have to shell out more than they would like.