The recently full reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 resulted in some backlash among fans when it was announced that not only would the new machine cost $450, but that upcoming Mario Kart World will cost $80. Before that, Nintendo’s most expensive Switch game was The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom at $70, the now standard price for premium games.
Initially, it also seemed like the physical edition of Mario Kart World would be priced at $10 more, giving rise to a wave of even harsher backlash.. That information seems to have been incorrect, though, as pre-orders are the physical edition are also listed at $80.
In an interview with Gene Park of the Washington Post, Nintendo’s big boss Doug Bowser (no relation) has attempted to explain the company’s decisions to charge $80 for Mario Kart World.
“What you see right there is variable pricing,” Bowser told the publication. “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.”
Bowser goes on to say that there are many factors that go into determining a game’s price but that the new Mario Kart does not represent a “benchmark”.
“So I think you can anticipate that there will be variable pricing, and we haven’t set a benchmark,” said Bowser.
Bowser chose not to comment on how this could influence the rest of the gaming market, stating that: “I can’t speak for other games that might be released by other publishers or other platforms. It’s more about what we think is right for our content, what is the right value for the consumers as they come into our platform.”