You’d better start saving for that rumoured Switch 2 price tag
Mama Mia, those Nintendo Switch 2 rumours are back with a vengeance. Just when we think whispers of a new-gen revamp as a Switch 2/Switch Pro have died down, the House that Mario built is back in the headlines. To be honest, seven years after the OG Switch launched, we think we're due an upgrade.
While the Switch quickly set its stall out with flagship titles like Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild, it's continued to churn out chart-topping titles over the years. Even when Starfield was being mocked for 30 FPS, some dubbed Tears of the Kingdom Game of the Year even with the console's graphical capabilities.
Switch 2 rumoured to cost $400
Click to enlargeSadly, all good things must come to an end, and as the Switch gets ready to take its place among giants like the N64 and Nintendo Wii in the great gaming graveyard of the sky, fans are rightly asking what's next. We always knew something would come after, but now, it sounds like it'll cost a pretty penny.
As reported by industry analyst Dr. Serkan Toto in GamesIndustry.biz's annual predictions (via VGC), the Switch 2 will launch at $400. This would mark it $100 more than the original Switch's launch price, but seven years later, we guess we can expect that.
"The time is finally here for a Switch successor, even though I can say a 'Pro' model actually did exist and certain developers were already working with the dev kit," says Toto. "I believe the next hardware will drop [in 2024] for $400. There is a high chance that games will cost more, too: $70."
Added to this, we could see Nintendo fully adopt the Sony and Microsoft pricing structure of charging $70 for games. Given that Tears of the Kingdom already did that, it's not too surprising. The interesting part is that Toto refers to this console as "an iteration rather than a revolution."
Saying that there might be some new "bells and whistles," we're told to expect something pretty similar to the original Switch. They say if it ain't broke, don't fix it, and with the Switch still outselling its competitors, that's a pretty solid business model.
All those Switch 2 rumours
Click to enlargeThe Switch's big selling point was its portable/home hybrid capabilities, so yet again, expect to take things on the go. As Toto reminds us, "Because there is Pokemon, and Pokemon is associated with handheld gaming, there is no way on earth Nintendo will drop the portability feature for their next big thing."
When the next iteration of the Switch releases, we'll have to act surprised. 2023 welcomed a deluge of leaks, including everything from mythical 2024 release dates to possible design renders and secret Gamescom reveals. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa shied away from discussing what's next in November 2023, although he's not fooling anyone.
The most prevalent rumour is that whatever comes next will still lack the grunt of the PS5 and Xbox Series (duh) and be more akin to the PS4 and Xbox One. Stumping up a new-gen price for what's effectively a last-gen console is sure to raise a few eyebrows, but aside from the Wii U, Nintendo has rarely done us wrong before.
