PS5 Gamers Worry as Nintendo Switch 2 Increases Game Prices to $80

Following the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 Direct event, the gaming world has been swirling with new tidbits about the console and its upcoming titles. What’s been stirring up quite a bit of buzz, though, is Nintendo’s fresh approach to game pricing. Gamers were taken aback to learn that the eagerly awaited Mario Kart World is set to launch at a hefty $80.

### Will PlayStation 5 Games Follow Nintendo Switch 2’s Pricing Model?

One glaring omission from the recent Nintendo Switch 2 Direct was any mention of how much the new console and its games are going to cost. Once the curtain lifted, curiosity turned into concern as the numbers began to surface. Two games were promptly stamped with their price tags. Donkey Kong Bananza is slated for $69.99, while Mario Kart World will demand $79.99.

This price tag is only for the standard edition of each game. Shelling out $69.99 for a game isn’t exactly breaking news, considering it’s a common sight for new PS5 releases. But, $79.99 for a basic edition is a bold new frontier that has gamers wondering if giants like Sony might take the same path.

Over on Reddit, particularly in the Games subreddit, people aren’t holding back on their thoughts about this price uptick.

“If this becomes the norm, I’m done buying games at launch,” one user lamented. “There are just too many games to play without rushing into new releases.”

Another chimed in, “The fact that it’s starting with such a big name is telling. Publishers won’t be far behind. I have the money, but it’s becoming hard to justify dropping that on a single game. As someone who collects physical copies, this feels like a breaking point. It’s really disheartening.”

The unease doesn’t stop there. There’s growing chatter about potential pricing gaps between physical and digital formats. On the UK Nintendo Store, gamers noticed an £8 (around $10) disparity between digital and physical copies of both Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. Should this trend cross the pond, we might see the physical version of Mario Kart World hitting $89.99 in the U.S. This scenario raises concerns, as it represents a notable leap in base game pricing and an unusual discrepancy between digital and physical costs.

It’s safe to say Nintendo wasn’t high on many gamers’ lists as the trailblazer for this pricing shift. Many had pegged Grand Theft Auto 6 as the game that would likely make this leap first. Now, it’s a waiting game to see if Sony, Microsoft, and other major players will follow Nintendo’s lead.