Nintendo
If you want to play the new Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart, prepare your wallet: the physical edition will cost $90
Fans are crying foul as the price of Mario Kart World is revealed: no less than $90 for the physical version and $79.99 for the digital version.
Mario Kart World, which is the name of the expected ninth installment of the saga, grabbed all the headlines during the Nintendo Direct focused on Nintendo Switch 2, the next console from the popular Japanese company. Fans of the franchise and the brand were dazzled by its countless new features, but when they looked at the price of the game to pre-order it, they were hit with a huge reality check: the new Mario Kart will cost a whopping $90 in physical format and $80 in digital. For many, this is the unmistakable sign that Nintendo is so confident in the success of its new console that it “allows” itself to raise the price of its games to such an exorbitant and unprecedented level.
Mario Kart World, the Nintendo Switch exclusive Mario Kart 9, will cost a whopping $90 in physical form
The announcement of Mario Kart World for Nintendo Switch 2 has caused a lot of controversy in the gaming community, all because of its high price tag. The title, which promises to take the iconic saga to new heights with more content and new features than ever before, will cost $89.99 in physical form and $79.99 in digital form. This price difference compared to Nintendo Switch releases, which typically cost $59.99, has caused many fans of the saga and the brand to take to social networks to express their outrage.
The price of Mario Kart World can be interpreted as a sign that Nintendo is fully confident in the success of the game and the huge fan base willing to buy it. For many, the decision to set such a high price is simply a profit-maximizing strategy, in the belief that both the popularity of the franchise and the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 - the only console on which it will be playable - will ensure multi-million dollar sales. This approach seems consistent with the company’s tendency to make the most of its most anticipated titles, especially when demand seems guaranteed.
There is no doubt that the price of Mario Kart World is excessive, sets a very troubling precedent for consumers, and jeopardizes Nintendo’s perception of its audience. In a market where competition is fierce and prices for big-name releases have remained virtually unchanged for decades, many fear that this price hike is a way to take advantage of gamers’ loyalty. This strategy could backfire if the game fails to live up to expectations, as fans could be disappointed if there is not a solid proposition or enough content behind the high price tag to justify it.
Ultimately, the price of Mario Kart World reflects the delicate balance that Nintendo must maintain if it wants to do well: financial gain on the one hand, but player satisfaction on the other. Mario Kart World will be one of the launch titles for Nintendo Switch 2, and both will be available from June 5, 2025. The Nintendo Switch 2 will initially be sold in two ways: alone with no additional games or accessories for $449.99, and with Mario Kart World in digital format for $499.99.
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