After Nintendo unveiled the price for its Switch 2 console, it also revealed the cost for its flagship game *Mario Kart: World*. This pricing announcement has sparked widespread discontent. PC Gamer, a foreign media outlet, published an article offering their perspective on the game's pricing.
The full text is below:
Luckily for me (or unluckily), I haven’t fully adjusted yet because someone is already pushing for an $80 standard price.
Earlier this week after showcasing Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo announced that its launch title Mario Kart: World would be priced at $80 for its digital version. The console itself will cost $450—a topic sparking much debate. Following a large-scale tariff announcement by the Trump administration, Nintendo delayed U.S. pre-orders and further price increases are expected in America.
The justification for Mario Kart’s price hike mirrors that given when publishers raised prices to $70: rising development costs and inflation—both real and undeniable factors. Developing a Call of Duty game today costs nearly $1 billion; over the past decade, the dollar’s value has dropped by one-third.
So it’s no surprise game prices keep climbing. But in America where wages have stagnated amid rising living costs, any additional hike—justified or not—is hard to accept. Even if Nintendo’s new feature lets cows drive (in-game), it’s still intriguing creativity.
Video games are sometimes dubbed “recession-proof” because people still play them even when money is tight; home entertainment is cheaper than costly nights out. However, after booming early in the pandemic, the gaming industry did contract—big companies laid off thousands as their short-term bets didn’t pay off.
Meanwhile, rumors say most PC gamers are busy playing what we already own; thanks for asking: according to Newzoo data, 92% of PC gamers’ time is spent on older titles.
Buying a Switch 2 essentially means buying new Switch 2 games too. But gaming PCs or Steam Decks offer access to many free or cheap classic games instead.
Even among high-end titles like Baldur’s Gate III—which costs just $60—it remains one of Steam’s top hits nearly two years post-launch.
Letting Nintendo lead alone with an $80 game might be wise for Activision and other big publishers (at least until GTA VI hits PC). Rockstar can likely set any price without issue—but that’s exceptional—and Americans’ disposable income isn’t looking good. AAA publishers should tread carefully if planning on bumping prices from $70 to $80.