Nintendo has confirmed pricing changes for its physical and digital Nintendo Switch 2 releases, set to be implemented from May, in line with the release of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book.
While any news like this is likely to raise hackles, after months of price increases across all aspects of life, there is a silver lining here. Nintendo is actually making digital prices cheaper, to incentivise players to purchase digitally, rather than keeping a physical collection.
Given it’s cheaper to release digital games anyway, it makes sense to adjust pricing. While that means the physical retail market will likely suffer, and those who prefer a physical collection will be disappointed by the push, it reflects growing behaviours in the gaming space, as more folks choose digital over physical.
Nintendo Switch 2 digital games set to be cheaper – quick links
Nintendo confirms pricing change for digital games
As Nintendo shared in a recent update, new digital game releases will have an MSRP that is lower than physical versions, reflecting the cost difference in distribution.
‘Nintendo games offer the same experiences whether in packaged or digital format, and this change simply reflects the different costs associated with producing and distributing each format and offers players more choice in how they can buy and play Nintendo games,’ Nintendo said of the changes.
As many of Nintendo’s recent physical releases have actually been game-key cards, which are physical cartridges that unlock the digital version of the game, the push for players to adopt the digital versions of games isn’t too surprising.
Encouraging digital uptake essentially means more players will be locked into Nintendo’s ecosystem, and that the company will have more control of how games are delivered. That does come at the cost of players being unable to sell on their games once they’re done, but the convenience somewhat softens this blow.
How much digital Nintendo Switch 2 games will cost in Australia
As noted by Nintendo, physical game releases are not going away, and retailers are still able to set their own prices. It’s likely cheaper physical copies of games will still be available for those keen to shop around.
For those who prefer the convenience of digital releases, games will be around AU$10 cheaper than their physical counterparts moving forward, which adds to the appeal.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, the first game to get the new Nintendo Switch 2 pricing, will be set at the following price point in Australia:
- Digital Release: AU$94.95
- Physical Release: AU$109.95
We expect these trends will continue for upcoming games, with the price difference being significant enough to encourage some buyers who’d typically prefer a physical release.
In Australia, retailers do occasionally price Switch 2 games around the $95 mark, but this change does make the Nintendo eShop more competitive, so we’ll see how prices fluctuate in future.
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