Nintendo has priced its highly anticipated Mario Kart World game at $80, a move that has sparked industry-wide concerns over pricing strategy. In an attempt to justify the decision, Nintendo executives have cited the game’s extensive content and value.
According to Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America’s Vice President of Product and Player Experience, the company focuses on the experience and content offered in each game rather than its price. He believes that Mario Kart World is “so big and so vast” with many secrets to discover, making it a rich gaming experience worth $80.
However, critics argue that this justification does not address key questions about Nintendo’s pricing strategy. How often will the company deem a game worthy of an $80 price tag? Will other publishers follow suit, potentially leading to a price hike across the industry?
Additionally, Doug Bowser, another Nintendo executive, discussed the impact of new tariffs on the Switch 2 pricing. According to Bowser, the tariffs were not factored into the initial pricing and are now creating a challenge for the company.
Nintendo has yet to provide an update on when pre-orders may go live in the US, citing the ongoing tariff situation as the reason. The release date of June 5 remains unchanged, but the prolonged delay raises concerns about its feasibility.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2025/04/07/nintendo-didnt-price-in-trump-tariffs-for-switch-2-justifies-80-mario-kart-world