Last week, Nintendo kept the Hype train on its next new The Switch 2 game system, with a series of live streams showing the new device along with nearby games as long -awaited as Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza.
The players, however, took into account something else. The live chat next to the YouTube streaming was flooded with people who published « Leave the price » and similar reasons for hours.
The US Price of the New System, $ 629 in Canada, is demonstrating that it is a difficult pill to swallow. The original switch launched in 2017 to US $ 299 ($ 399 CDN).
In addition, the list of Nord -Americans of Nintendo was added Mario Kart World To US $ 80, which is $ 10 higher than normal for current flagships. Currently, the Nintendo Canadian shop does not list the suggested sales price of the manufacturer (MRSP), but a direct conversion would place $ 110 of CDN or more.
Then, on Friday, two days after the switch showcase 2-Another Bombshell: Nintendo stopped pre-barbarism for the console in the United States, « in order to evaluate the potential impact of the market’s rates and conditions, » according to a statement.
« Nintendo will update the calendar on a later date. The launch date on June 5, 2025 is not changed, » the statement continued.
Although he did not mention the President of the United States, Donald Trump, by name, the use of the word « rate » is only a strong departure from the preference of the Japanese games company to move away from current events or politics in his products or messaging.
Industry analysts and proponents have expressed concern about the unpredictable fare situation that could lead to an increase in prices through the table, which makes change 2 and play in general less accessible in the middle of a wider crisis of accessibility.
The pre-committed pause seems to only affect the United States right now. A representative of Nintendo of Canada confirmed to CBC that pre-barbarism in this country will still begin on April 9.
Switch 2 « appropriate » price, says Nintendo America Boss
Nintendo has not yet commented on the negative reaction to the Switch 2 price. During a round table in the round table with Switch Hardware Architects 2 Last Wednesday, a moderator quickly deflected a question about the price, saying that the panel was there to answer the questions about « the fun things. »
The President of Nintendo of America, Doug Bowser, was slightly closer.
« While we look at Nintendo Switch 2 and think about the sets of functions I spoke … We believe that the price is suitable for the value of the machine and the game experience in general, » he said.
Bowser, who spoke with CBC before the United States Pre-Command Pause, said that the previous generation of Switch devices will still be supported, including a selection of new games that will come out later this year.
« We acknowledge that some people may not be allowed (the switch change 2). That is why we wanted to make available to the other switching platforms, so that (people) still have the opportunity to enter our game universe, be part of these characters in these worlds and see value, if you like, in any renail on the platform they come. »
Bowser would not share target numbers, but said that Nintendo believes that switch 2 can be successful as his immediate predecessor. It is a high bar, as the original switch has sold more than 150 million units worldwide, making it the third best-selling game console of all time.
« Surely, there are foreign circumstances that can affect positively or negatively. And we cannot control them necessarily. What we can control is that we think that we have a device that will bring more developers to the platform, which we can inclined as a developer ourselves or publisher ourselves.
About these « external circumstances »
Talking before pre-bar, Analysts told Gamesindustry.biz They believed that the high price was established in anticipation of the Trump World Tariff announcement.
« The highest cost of console in the United States compared to Japan is probably a movement calculated by Nintendo, driven by fare impacts, the weak Japanese yen and the conditions of the local market. » said Daniel Ahmad, director of research and information at Niko Partners.
« The reciprocal rates in Vietnam and Japan have been higher than expected, and Nintendo will feel the impact of this if the rates come in full effect. »
Nintendo moved a bit of his Switch 2 production from China to Vietnam Partly avoid the effects of US rates. But the 46 percent rate of Trump in Vietnam was higher than the market observers planned and may have completely erased the advantages of moving.
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Spokesman for the US -based entertainment software said to the IGN GAME PLACE They expect Trump’s rates to have significant effects on the whole game industry and beyond, although it was « unfortunate and coincidental calendar » that Nintendo Switch 2 revelation presented Trump’s « release day » of the tariff ads.
Paul Fogolin, president of the Canada’s entertainment software association, told CBC News that « Global Rates announced by the Trump administration earlier this week will have a real and harmful impact on our industry and the millions of Canadians who love playing games ».
Fogolin said that, just as other consumer goods, game consoles and other consumer electronics used by people to play games, they are built with parts of various countries and could pass several borders that are affected by the rates during construction.
A price of more than $ 600 in Canada is among the new details about the next Nintendo Switch 2 console, along with the launch date on June 5 and some of the games available. Will this cost to deter buyers?
« The industry is based on affordable consoles, because the goal is to provide players with the latest technology to play the latest games, so we predict that the rates have a wavy effect that will affect players and companies throughout the ecosystem, » said Fogolin.
Nintendo is in a tight place not entirely of his own. Competitors like Microsoft and Sony, without a doubt, see closely the fare situation and how future hardware launches can affect.
For players of all ages, they were made for the next success of Mario map or SubwayThe switching question may not be: « Is it worth it? » But simply, « Can I afford it? »
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