Nintendo's first post-Switch 2 Nintendo Direct Treehouse livestream has been inundated with angry comments from users demanding that the company "DROP THE PRICE." A quick look at the YouTube chat during the stream reveals a wave of dissatisfaction with the pricing of Nintendo's next-generation console, particularly the $449.99 price tag for the Switch 2 and the controversial $79.99 price for Mario Kart World.
The Nintendo Switch 2 system itself is set to retail for $449.99, but a bundle option is available that includes Mario Kart World for $499.99, offering a $30 saving on the game's price.
Mario Kart World isn't the only game on the Switch 2 priced at $79.99. Other titles, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, also carry this price point. Additionally, Nintendo has faced criticism for charging for the Switch 2 tutorial game, Welcome Tour, which many fans believe should be a free pack-in, similar to Astro's Playroom, which comes pre-installed on every PlayStation 5 and serves as a free tech demo for the DualSense controller.
The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with the following:
- Nintendo Switch 2 console
- Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)
- Joy-Con 2 Grip
- Joy-Con 2 Straps
- Nintendo Switch 2 Dock
- Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable
- Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter
- USB-C Charging Cable
The backlash against Nintendo's pricing strategy is now spilling over into the Treehouse livestream, though the presenters have so far chosen to ignore the chat. It seems likely that Nintendo will continue to face pressure from the gaming community to address these pricing concerns.
For more context, check out IGN's article on what the experts have to say about Nintendo's Switch 2 and Mario Kart World pricing.
And, in case you missed it, you can find all the news announced during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.
