Nintendo Using ‘Variable Pricing’ to determine Switch 2 Game Price 

In a new interview with The Washington Post, Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser stated that the company will use “variable pricing” when deciding to set the price of each Switch 2 game. This is why Mario Kart World costs $79.99 at launch and Donkey Kong Bananza will be $69.99 for the new console. [Thanks, The Washington Post!]

As part of the discussion regarding costs, Bowser went over some of the criteria the company will look at when making a decision. When speaking to Gene Park, he noted, “We’ll look at each game, really look at the development that’s gone into the game, the breadth and depth of the gameplay, if you will, the durability over time and the repeatability of gameplay experiences. Those are all factors, and there’s many more that go into consideration of what is the right price point for the game. So I think you can anticipate that there will be variable pricing, and we haven’t set a benchmark.”

Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza aren’t the only Switch 2 games where we already know the price to give us an idea of the costs associated with owning and playing titles on the new console. Square Enix already shared the Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster cost, which is $39.99. Street Fighter 6 Year 1-2 Fighters Edition will be $59.99 when it launches, which is in line with what the game cost on other platforms when it debuted. With that, we also need to take into account that it includes DLC fighters’ passes. 

One of the cheapest exclusive titles is Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. The US price isn’t available yet. We do know that will cost 990 yen in Japan, which is about $6.70. That’s a game that consists of quizzes about the console, tech demos, and some minigames.

The Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World will launch on June 5, 2025, and Donkey Kong Bananza will debut on July 17, 2025.