Nintendo America’s Doug Bowser Explains The Higher Pricing Of Switch 2 And Games

Following the official reveal of the Switch 2, many fans were shocked and disappointed at the high price of the console and its games, reaching up to $450 USD for the former and $80 USD for the latter.

At the time, many assumed that the higher price of the Switch 2 was because Nintendo was anticipating the high tariffs being implemented US President Donald Trump. In an interview with The Verge however, Nintendo Of America President Doug Bowser seemed to hint that this was not the case, saying that the tariffs were not factored into the price of the Switch 2, instead saying that the higher price point was due to the enhanced features built into the new console over the Switch 2.

“We want to make sure that this is a device that is approachable, that consumers will see as part of their overall entertainment experiences and will understand that it has longevity to it. And all of those factors really go into the consideration of the price.”

“Put [the 2nd April tariff announcement] aside Any previous tariffs were not factored into the price itself.”

With regards to the price of games, Bowser shared similar comments with The Washington Post, saying that not every game will be priced at $80, and that there would be “variable pricing” between games depending on how much work went into the game and how expansive it is.

**“What you see right there is variable pricing. 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.

I think it’s less about representing the industry … this is really about Nintendo deciding the right thing to do for its products or what the pricing should be for its products overall. Even in the previous generation … we had some variability. I think for us, that’s really how we want to proceed and go forward. 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.”**

That said, according to industry veteran Stephen Totilo, many of these interviews were likely conducted prior to the official announcement of Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs and Nintendo’s subsequent decision to delay pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the US. The situation has been changing rapidly since then, and it is likely that Nintendo is now heavily considering adjustments to their prices in the US due to the ongoing tariffs.

In another separate interview with The Wired, Doug Bowser said that the tariffs “create a challenge” and is something Nintendo will “have to address”.

Stay tuned for more developments as they come.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.