First-party Switch 2 games—including re-releases—all run either $70 or $80 (arstechnica.com)
from Agent_Karyo@lemmy.world to games@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 05:35
https://lemmy.world/post/27723852

#games

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Agent_Karyo@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 05:43 next collapse

I am not in the market for a console (my last one was the Sega Mega Drive which was abandoned after we got a Pentium 1 PC and dialup), but I got to say, I love Nintendo’s pricing policy.

It’s almost as if they are taking the piss and want to see to what extent their fans are gluttons for punishment.

One possible complicating factor for those games? While they’re physical releases, they use Nintendo’s new Game-Key Card format, which attempts to split the difference between true physical copies of a game and download codes. Each cartridge includes a key for the game, but no actual game content—the game itself is downloaded to your system at first launch. But despite holding no game content, the key card must be inserted each time you launch the game, just like any other physical cartridge.

This is full on corporate regressiveness.

Nintendo will also use some Switch 2 Edition upgrades as a carrot to entice people to the more expensive $50-per-year tier of the Nintendo Switch Online service. The company has already announced that the upgrade packs for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will be offered for free to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers. The list of extra benefits for that service now includes additional emulated consoles (Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and now Gamecube) and paid DLC for both Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Mario Kart 8.

Wait so you have to subscribe to get access to emulators (which are all open source I am assuming)? And you can’t just buy a retro game (ala GOG) and play it to your heart’s content? You need a sub to Nintendo online?

whodrankarnoldpalmer@startrek.website on 03 Apr 06:09 next collapse

So does this kill used game sales?

XiberKernel@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 06:16 next collapse

I think it kills game leaks before the street date. Even if the data isn’t in the cartridge (which is stupid), you would still be able to sell the cartage assuming the online service is still active.

Sucks for game preservation though. I’m personally hoping there’s some flaw in the gen 1 hardware that can be exploited for archive purchases.

(edit: fixed autocorrect)

Agent_Karyo@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 06:17 collapse

I am assuming you can re-sell the “Game Key”.

Kelly@programming.dev on 03 Apr 06:54 next collapse

Their emulators have always been proprietary. The waters were a little muddied by the NES/SNES Classic consoles using a Linux OS but the emulators were their own code.

Their FOSS code is made available when required and is published here:

support.nintendo.com/jp/oss/index.html

Agent_Karyo@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 07:39 collapse

I see. I am surprised they didn’t simply take existing open source code and go with that.

PrinzKasper@feddit.org on 03 Apr 15:40 collapse

They likely want to avoid legitimising those existing emulators.

wuzzlewoggle@feddit.org on 03 Apr 07:07 next collapse

The key card thing is seriously infuriating, both from a consumer standpoint and from a media conservation standpoint.

Basically you own a game cartridge, but as soon as Nintendo shuts down their servers for whatever reason it becomes a useless piece of plastic. They really don’t want us to own anything anymore.

MudMan@fedia.io on 03 Apr 07:18 collapse

I'm not sure that's how that works. The Switch already had both physical boxes with digital codes in them and cartridges that required mandatory downloads to run. This seems like a physical unlock key for a digital download, which depending on how it's implemented is actually easier to both resell and use offline than the Switch 1 solution to the same problem.

I don't recommend purchasing either, and I avoided both of those options on Switch 1, but I'm pretty sure this at least does not make things any worse.

I have major gripes with a number of pricing choices in this thing, but to the best of my current understanding this one is based on a misunderstanding.

catloaf@lemm.ee on 09 Apr 18:14 collapse

You cannot use the unlock key, or even redownload the game, when, not if, the Switch store goes offline.

MudMan@fedia.io on 09 Apr 18:41 collapse

This is true.

It's also true of the partial download carts for Switch 1 that don't include a full playable version of the game in the cart.

Presumably the digital back-compat on the Switch 2 means the Switch will live a lot longer usual for Nintendo platforms, and we don't know if there will be a backwards compatible Switch 3.

But in practice, this is just an iteration of the Switch 1 version of the same thing. It's not great. I avoided both the mandatory download carts and will likely avoid these ones, but it's not a bigger deal than it has been for the past five years or so.

Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works on 03 Apr 07:21 next collapse

Oh wow, that cartridge thing is actually just the worst of both worlds. I’m similar to you, my last console was a Mega Drive but I did get a Switch for my wife and played a couple of games on it which was fun. Not really keen on giving Nintendo more money though.

Sixtyforce@sh.itjust.works on 03 Apr 08:45 collapse

So when Nintendo servers shut down, that’s it.

bungle_in_the_jungle@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 05:53 next collapse

Nope. That’ll be a pass from me Nintendo.

Deceptichum@quokk.au on 03 Apr 07:14 next collapse

Oh you’re going to subscribe to Nintendo Pass for $12.99 a month?

Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 03 Apr 13:14 collapse

I’ll wait for an emulator

Cethin@lemmy.zip on 03 Apr 17:45 collapse

Honestly, I won’t bother. I only tried a few Switch games on emulator out of curiosity, and never played long. They don’t make anything interesting enough for me to want. I don’t get why people feel the need for Nintendo.

Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 03 Apr 19:40 collapse

The mainline Zelda games were fantastic emulated, beautiful with graphics mods and at 1440p/60-120FPS! I also really enjoyed Link’s Awakening. I played Monster Hunter Rise on my regular switch for like 140 hours, but I wish I had waited for the computer version.

I’m definitely passing on Switch 2. I only ever played my Switch docked and always wished I was just playing it in the computer instead.

Viri4thus@feddit.org on 03 Apr 06:13 next collapse

Fuck Nintendo.

OtterFool@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 08:15 next collapse

Always loved Nintendo, but this will be a hard pass from me.

Sepix@feddit.org on 03 Apr 08:27 next collapse

I was REALLY looking forward to the 2 … this leaves such a sour aftertaste, it’s very unpleasant.

smeg@feddit.uk on 03 Apr 08:35 next collapse

Aren’t consoles and their new game always ridiculously expensive on launch? I know Nintendo stuff often doesn’t drop in price that much but I’d be surprised if they stay this expensive for long. Plenty of other games to play in the meantime!

Kelly@programming.dev on 03 Apr 08:52 next collapse

These are the top 5 sellers on Switch:

These links take you to a price tracker with a chart showing historical prices. The RRP of each of these has been static, and discounts are short and infrequent.

In a break from form Nintendo hasn’t released a budget “Selects” label for older titles this generation.

smeg@feddit.uk on 03 Apr 09:20 collapse

Fair point, but I still can’t imagine they’ll be double that price for long. The only GBP price I’ve seen for a Switch 2 game is the MKW bundle which is only £30 more than the console on its own.

DoucheBagMcSwag@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 03 Apr 12:56 collapse

It will only stay as high as the market and customers allow it

If it sells out, expect a price drop in a few years

If it fails to meet Nintendo’s expectations (3DS at launch) expect a price drop a few weeks or months (3DS at launch)

Kelly@programming.dev on 03 Apr 13:14 collapse

If it sells out, expect a price drop in a few years

Switch sold out in 2017, and now the same basic Neon model is selling for the same price in 2025.

DoucheBagMcSwag@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 03 Apr 13:23 collapse

Maybe I should have been more specific…i meant mid to end of life. I totally figured forgot the switch lasted a fucking decade

callouscomic@lemm.ee on 03 Apr 09:44 next collapse

Ubisoft’s The Crew 3: Super Mario Horizon

SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 10:40 next collapse

The only game I want to play is that new Donkey Kong game. Paying €520 for playing just one game is ridiculous. I’m gonna wait till Nintendo releases more games. I’m not gonna spend €450 for it to collect dust like my PS5.

LostXOR@fedia.io on 03 Apr 12:21 next collapse

Ah yes, let me pay $450 for a console that I have to pay an additional $80 for every game I want to play. What a sound financial decision.

arakhis_@feddit.org on 03 Apr 14:02 collapse

I wonder if there would be communities, focused on playing these xbox360 era games on pc - after this

Anyone got links further educational reading on this matter?

Tattorack@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 16:35 collapse

Gbatemp.net

arakhis_@feddit.org on 03 Apr 22:40 collapse

nice but these tutorials seem to be about jailbreaking consoles not emulation, or am I wrong?

Tattorack@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 22:44 collapse

There are also resources on emulation. Generally speaking, if it’s about console hacking, rom hacking, custom roms, homebrew, and general technical stuff, GBATemp is the place for it.

A lot of people that develop CFWs, emulators, or homebrew hang out on that forum.

However, be advised; the only reason why that forum is even alive after all these decades is because they’re not allowed to directly link to pirated software.

arakhis_@feddit.org on 04 Apr 01:28 collapse

but emulators are perfectly legal?

Of course I would buy the game officially

Tattorack@lemmy.world on 04 Apr 11:03 collapse

Which is why CFWs and emulators are shared there. Just not the games.

ivanafterall@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 12:37 next collapse

I pray it faces record-breaking piracy.

ryathal@sh.itjust.works on 03 Apr 13:29 next collapse

It probably will. Given the modest spec bump and the high even for Nintendo hostility to switch emulation, it’s probably trivial to support switch 2 as well.

arakhis_@feddit.org on 03 Apr 14:02 collapse

I too wonder if there would be communities, focused on playing these xbox360 era games on pc - after this

Anyone got links further educational reading on this matter?

Elevator7009@lemmy.zip on 03 Apr 14:15 next collapse

I love having my decision not to buy a Nintendo Switch and stick to PC games validated.

Feel bad for all the Nintendo fans though, I get how you can fall in love with a franchise they make and want their stuff only to have “except it costs a ton” stuck on, so you’ll have to skip for financial reasons and feel unhappy. It’s a lot harder to abstain from something you actually care about and want, than something you are maybe mildly interested in.

SuperSpecialNickname@lemmy.ml on 03 Apr 17:51 next collapse

It’s most difficult for me since I want to play metroid prime 4, especially after hearing the music. But I don’t want to pay 90 euro for base game. That’s incredibly ridiculous

CallateCoyote@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 19:27 collapse

I’m just going to get the Switch version and be perfectly happy with the visuals being slightly less good and using gyro joycon aim over joycon mouse.

samus12345@lemm.ee on 03 Apr 21:13 next collapse

Some of us will probably even get to play it early judging by the past several first-party Nintendo games.

CallateCoyote@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 21:15 collapse

Hah. Oh hey… Look, it’s in 4K after all!

samus12345@lemm.ee on 03 Apr 21:20 collapse

And 60fps! Well, not for me, I’ll be playing on original Switch hardware.

catloaf@lemm.ee on 09 Apr 18:23 collapse

I hope they still have tank controls, and designed the game with those in mind. I’ve been playing the Prime games like that for so long.

Failing that, at least a twin stick control scheme would be nice.

samus12345@lemm.ee on 03 Apr 21:15 collapse

No Zelda or Mario will hurt. But Nintendo’s decided I’m just too poor to be worthy of playing their games any more.

thermal_shock@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 22:33 collapse

There’s a hundred different versions of amazing Mario and Zelda games that you can play already with emulators and on an old switch/computer/steamdeck. Wait till the new one is emulated, don’t enable Nintendo to do this shit.

samus12345@lemm.ee on 04 Apr 01:37 next collapse

Yes, and I’ve played them all multiple times. I was referring to NEW Marios and Zeldas. Metroid, too, but Prime 4 will at least be on Switch 1 and who knows when or if the next one will happen.

SplashJackson@lemmy.ca on 04 Apr 12:07 collapse

Try some ROM hacks. Super Mario Logic is pretty sweet

Vipsu@lemmy.world on 04 Apr 07:28 collapse

There are also plenty of decent Zelda-likes out there from small indie studios all the way to triple-a studios. Sony should really make one of their own looking at how well the managed to but pretty much everything Nintendo all at once to Astro bot.

thermal_shock@lemmy.world on 04 Apr 11:59 collapse

Seriously. It’s tried and true.

nadiaraven@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 15:02 next collapse

This is an unpopular opinion, but y’all are forgetting about inflation. $60 in 2017 is $78 in 2025. $300 in 2017 is $390 today.

My ex always mocked me for the prices of Nintendo switch games. She even got me into playing games on my PC. But except for trackmania, I always gravitate back to the Switch. And I’m definitely in a priveleged place so take this with a grain of salt, but I’m buying the Switch 2 pretty much no matter what. To me it’s worth the cost.

Macaroni_ninja@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 15:26 next collapse

Its cool, your choice, you spend your money as you see fit.

I personally would never spend 60 usd on a game in 2017 and will never spend 80 usd in 2025. Its just too much.

eronth@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 15:46 next collapse

Yes, inflation happened, and purchasing power has not grown or stayed the same with it. People can’t afford as much, so rising prices on entertainment are going to sting even more.

h3adphones@lemmy.zip on 03 Apr 15:54 next collapse

Tell that to the people making the same amount of money in 2025 that they were in 2017.

Penguinz@lemm.ee on 03 Apr 16:47 next collapse

General inflation doesn’t quite translate directly in all cases and is just a reference. In video games, costs have increased, but revenues have increased primarily through micro transactions and a growing market/sales. There’s virtually no marginal cost to produce additional units with software, so the revenues become a balance of price, demand, and supply (for hardware). They are expecting that the price increase won’t result in a significant drop in demand so that revenue increases. If they’re wrong, this will be a huge business mistake. If enough people purchase anyway, like you, then they’ll increase revenues and this will be considered a great business decision

AEsheron@lemmy.world on 04 Apr 00:09 collapse

Yeah, I have rejected increased cost games for this very reason. But Nintendo is one of the few companies I believe would do it to cover their costs instead of just preying upon general apathy towards inflation since covid to jack up profit. They are too rich for my blood at the time, but if I had the income to splurge this would be one of a vanishingly small number of places I would be willing to put up with it.

Penguinz@lemm.ee on 04 Apr 00:57 collapse

After coming off the incredibly successful Switch generation and Mario Kart 8 being essentially a decade old game that’s sold over 70 million copies, I just don’t believe that this is a decision driven by absolute necessity. I’d have begrudgingly accepted the standard PS5 prices of $70 games and $10 upgrades which I already thought were usually overpriced, but raising another $10 seems ridiculous. I’m thinking I’ll pass at least for a few years

MorningThunder@lemm.ee on 03 Apr 16:57 collapse

Also, even disregarding the inflation argument, video gaming is still one of the cheapest per hour hobbies.

Tattorack@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 16:34 next collapse

Can’t wait to wait 2 years and then pirate it.

But besides that; are there any good PC kart racers?

(Emphasis on “good”, because I already know about Super Tux Kart, used to play it a lot more than 10 years ago, but today it feels very… Clunky and dated).

ampersandrew@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 17:02 next collapse

I hear very good things about Sonic All-Stars Racing Transformed, and there’s a new one coming.

SolarPunker@slrpnk.net on 03 Apr 17:12 next collapse

and there’s a new one coming

Wut OoO really? (edit) Ok I found it Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds from Sonic Team! I’m super hyped

Tattorack@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 22:48 collapse

Hmm… I’ve heard a few things about Sonic All-Stars too. Guess I should give it a shot.

Would be cool if Crash Nitro Kart isn’t still a PlayStation exclusive…

SolarPunker@slrpnk.net on 03 Apr 17:10 next collapse

Sonic Racing Transformed still the best

xtools@programming.dev on 03 Apr 20:10 next collapse

super tux cart on linux is free and open source

Apeman42@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 22:41 next collapse

You probably want a dedicated game, but I have a lot of fun with Dragon Kart in Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

tobz619@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 23:16 collapse

Sonic and Sega All Stars Transformed is top

icecreamtaco@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 17:02 next collapse

Am I the only one who doesn’t care about this? We’ll wait for the 33% nintendo sales and fill the rest of the year with 3rd party 80% sales like always

pycorax@lemmy.world on 04 Apr 00:29 collapse

Or get it second hand for cheap lol, it’s not a big deal to me at least.

venotic@kbin.melroy.org on 03 Apr 17:29 next collapse

I never ever saw the point of paying premium for re-released games. Those are the kind of games where I will wait almost any time for them to drop so it is a favorable price. And with the specs of the Switch 2, the price points being asked of from those games, do no warrant it. They are best played on other platforms.

_cryptagion@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 03 Apr 17:57 next collapse

I look forward to playing these for free in a year or two when an emulator that works on the Steam Deck is released.

NastyNative@mander.xyz on 03 Apr 18:30 next collapse

4 real when Zelda was released on the switch is ran at like 1080p 30 fps. The emulator version was 4k @ 60 fps…

NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip on 03 Apr 18:32 collapse

The reason the switch 1 was emulated so fast was a hardware vulnerability on nvidia’s part. Presumably we won’t see that again.

Also: While switch games DO run better on a steam deck, they don’t run great. And I think estimates put the switch 2 at closer to a PS4 than PS3 in terms of power? But even PS3/360 games don’t run gerat on a Steam Deck.

Not to mention nintendo’s lawyers putting the fear of mario into the emulation community.

So in a few years? I could see MAYBE some proof of concepts. But I doubt we’ll actually be able to properly emulate switch 2 games until at least 2030.

_cryptagion@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 03 Apr 19:44 collapse

Well, then I look forward to playing games for this retro console for free in six years when an emulator drops for the Steam Deck 2.

otp@sh.itjust.works on 03 Apr 21:32 next collapse

Canadian here: What’s the difference? /s

circuitloss@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 23:02 collapse

For you it’ll be $120 Wilfrid Laurier bucks…

daggermoon@lemmy.world on 03 Apr 21:56 next collapse

SteamDeck it is.

Zink@programming.dev on 03 Apr 22:33 next collapse

I’m the dude in that meme looking at the other girl, and she is my icon collections in Steam, GOG, even Epic, etc. Icons with native Linux versions get slight preference.

fuzzywombat@lemmy.world on 04 Apr 05:42 next collapse

Gaming market as a whole seems to be going through a correction of sort and this is the time when Nintendo decides to raise the price? Good luck with that Nintendo.

I along with just about everyone here probably has a massive back catalogue of games on Steam to ride out whatever is currently happening in the gaming industry. Maybe I’ll just chill over by the corner and watch the gaming market craters itself into the ground.

llii@discuss.tchncs.de on 04 Apr 08:28 next collapse

I buy pretty much every console there is, but I’ll pass here. Maybe there will be a price-cut OLED model and a new “Best of Switch 2” Series of games with cut prices (like on GameCube or Wii). Also I want to wait and see if the Joy-Cons 2 get drifting issues.

4shtonButcher@discuss.tchncs.de on 04 Apr 08:42 next collapse

Arrrr!

state_electrician@discuss.tchncs.de on 04 Apr 08:49 collapse

Just like their prices, Nintendo will never change.