PlayStation Ex-Exec: Console Exclusions Offset Switch 2 Cost

The former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment America has addressed the reaction to the Nintendo Switch 2's pricing, noting that the appeal of exclusive Nintendo games helps ease the initial price shock.

Nintendo recently set the Switch 2 price at $449.99, approximately $50 higher than some analyst forecasts. More notably, certain Switch 2 games, such as Mario Kart World, now cost $79.99—a $10 increase.

It’s important to highlight that Nintendo is offering a bundle including the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World for $499.99, effectively reducing the game’s price by a significant $30. However, the company has clarified that this is a limited-time offer. Due to tariff uncertainties and a pre-order delay in the U.S., it is unclear whether the bundle will remain at this price.

Mario Kart World is not the only Switch 2 game priced at $80. Several Switch 2 Edition titles announced during the Nintendo Direct, including Kirby and The Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star Crossed World, Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, also carry a $79.99 price tag.

IGN has covered various perspectives on Nintendo’s shift to $80 games for the Switch 2 generation, including input from analysts who have explained the reasons behind this change. Now, Shawn Layden, former PlayStation U.S. executive, has shared his view, suggesting that the fear of missing out on Nintendo’s exclusive titles helps justify the price increases.

During an appearance on the PlayerDriven YouTube channel and podcast, Layden compared the strategies of Sony and Microsoft, which are increasingly releasing their titles on PC and competing consoles, with Nintendo’s approach of keeping its games exclusive to its own hardware.

"But right here you see, ‘wow, that’s kind of a hefty price hike from Switch 1 to Switch 2 and, wow, 80 bucks for a game?’ " Layden commented.

"But if it’s the only place where you can play Mario, then you get your wallet out and you buy into it... and Donkey Kong and Zelda. That first-party exclusivity kind of mitigates the sticker shock, if you will, of these price hikes, because you want that content so badly."

Nintendo Switch 2 Pricing in the U.S.:

Nintendo Switch 2 (standalone): $449.99
Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundle: $499.99
Mario Kart World (standalone): $79.99
Donkey Kong Bananza: $69.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: $79.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: $49.99
Joy-Con 2 Controller pair: $89.99
Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip: $34.99
Joy-Con 2 Strap: $12.99
Joy-Con 2 Wheel pair: $19.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set: $109.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector: $34.99
Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case: $79.99
Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter: $29.99

Layden also discussed the overall pricing of video games, asserting that, when adjusted for inflation, game costs have actually decreased over the years. He suggested that console manufacturers should have raised prices by $5 with each new console generation, which would place the current price around $90.

"In 2025 dollars, $59.99 in 1999 is equivalent to $100. Your purchasing power compared to your cost of living has decreased, yet companies have been hesitant to raise prices.

"During my time in the industry, I believed every generation should have included a $5 software price increase, establishing it as the new standard. By now, games would have reached around $90."

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

7 Images