From Hype to Headache: Nintendo Switch 2’s Big Reveal and the Fallout That Followed
What started as Nintendo’s biggest win quickly spiraled into confusion, backlash, and uncertainty.
Many others and I were looking forward to Nintendo's presentation on Nintendo Switch 2, and they did not disappoint! I made sure to be there bright and early at 10am and catch the event with everyone that morning, and it was so exciting! It felt so different because of the 1-hour special, catchy music, and fantastic visuals building blocks to the intro. They did not disappoint with their presentation: from showing the differences between the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, the games coming out for the new console, upgrades to current games that are released, and the release date for the console! What happened afterward made things weird and made me take a step back to look at the entire situation, financially and politically.
The Presentation That Won Us Over
I really like how the Switch looks! It's sleek and not too bulky. It's very similar to the original Switch but bigger in screen size and controller. The new features like mouse controls, the satisfying snap sound from the magnetic joy-cons, and the game chat feature got me so hyped to play around with the features alone. The C Button was hidden from us for a while, but from the leaks - it had to be related to some community feature. I hoped it was MiiVerse, but this is a great addition regardless! We can share our screens, play different games, and chat like a regular Xbox or PS party.
The mouse controls are also a dope addition - I saw how well it would be in Metroid Prime 4, so I would like to see how it is in a multiplayer game like Call of Duty. They even based a whole game on the feature. The game is called Drag x Drive, which is a 3 vs 3 basketball game where the characters have wheelchairs. You control the movements with mouse controls and simulate moving the wheels, turning, and dunking on players! It looks cool, not gonna lie, and it's nice to have that inclusion!
The games they introduced were insane—it felt like I couldn't process the amount of greatness we were witnessing. It started with Mario Kart World, with a new style, modes, and free roam! They've introduced many new mechanics, like grinding on the rails, driving on the walls, and automatically having the items behind you without holding the button! There will be a dedicated direct on April 17th, and it will be released with the Nintendo Switch 2! There's a bundle with it, so everyone gravitates to that automatically rather than only getting the console, which is incredible.
Seeing Donkey Kong Bananza was so cool. It felt like I was watching a Super Mario Odyssey 2 sequel, which is not bad. It was finally time to have a modern open-world Donkey Kong game—the last one I remember is on the Nintendo 64! It was amazing to see how expressive he is and the power of the Switch 2 in real-time, with Donkey Kong able to break through the ground, walls, and more. I'll be there for sure when it drops!
Duskbloods was a wild surprise, for sure! I wasn't expecting to see FromSoftware games on this console - from Elden Ring to this! Not only that, but it is also a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive! They were trying to make the game for the original Switch, and now it is released for the newer device, which makes more sense. I enjoyed the trailer; it reminded me of Bloodborne and Castlevania! I am slightly put off by it, though, knowing it is a multiplayer-focused game, but I will wait to see more about it!
Kirby Air Riders was a game I wasn't expecting to see AT ALL!!! I remember playing the original game on the Nintendo GameCube, and everything from the soundtrack, gameplay, and free roam was so damn fun. My little brother loves Kirby, so seeing this trailer made him want to play it. It was so beautiful introducing him to the original and seeing him enjoy it like I did! What I love about this comeback is that Sakurai is also working on the game! I never thought we would see the day, and I am so grateful to be part of history with that - I know that will surely be my personal game of the year.
Truthfully, that was the best Nintendo Direct to date. It was so good that it froze the U.S. Nintendo Direct YouTube's live stream, forcing them to take it down and replace it with the fixed video. Everything shown feels like a revival of the Nintendo GameCube era (also because we can play GameCube games)! Seeing all the discourse afterward made things overwhelming, so I had to step back from socials for a bit.
(Mis)Information on the Pricing of Nintendo Switch 2
During the presentation, Nintendo did not mention the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 and the games. It's good because it wouldn't stain a great showcase. A couple minutes after the presentation - Nintendo posted information about when pre-orders would start and the pricing of the console and games. I'll mention USD prices for this article, but they are high in other countries; in the United States, the Nintendo Switch 2 is $450, and with Mario Kart World included, it is $500. The pricing isn't too bad; it is the price I thought it would be, and it is priced around the same as the PS5 and Xbox Series X. The public did not like the pricing; some thought it was all right, but the majority was annoyed. What we're getting with the console is worth it, though.
The pricing for the games is where things got blown out of proportion. A screenshot posted on Twitter shows Mario Kart World being $90 Physical and $80 digital. So far, from the Nintendo website, there's only one price, which is $80, and it is suggested. Hence, some retailers are just putting it $60 flat out, so it's interesting to see how things go, but with that one image, people do not feel that at all. A lot of people feel like they won't be able to sustain having Switch 2 because the games themselves are so expensive. They feel like that, so much so that during Nintendo's Treehouse both days, people were spamming "DROP THE PRICE" all throughout the live chat. I am surprised Nintendo didn't turn off the chat when Day 2 came about.
While the games are costly, Nintendo got Mario Kart World bundled, which is $30 less, and most people will choose that option. But I know they have to deal with those larger prices when that bundle is gone. As for the other games, not all are $80; they range from $60-$80, depending on the game, and it seems like Nintendo chooses $80 for their more significant games. However, it sets a precedent for the gaming industry to just raise pricing on games across the board, like how newer games for the PS5 and Xbox Series X will cost $70. It feels like by the time GTA 6 releases, they will charge $100+ for the title, which is insane.
Tariffs and Uncertainties
On the same day as Nintendo's Direct, Trump introduced tariffs to many countries, including Vietnam and Cambodia. Nintendo has many of its products for the Nintendo Switch 2. That caught all of us off guard, and we thought things would be okay slightly. We'd have more time to pre-order the Switch 2 and lock in on the price, but we were wrong. Two days later, Nintendo decided to delay the pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. I was sick to my STOMACH! I made sure to have things set to pre-order the console, but now I'm unsure if I can access that pre-order.
Everyone is hoping that the price doesn't go up or decrease, but with how high the percentages for the tariffs are put on the countries - we can't be that hopeful. So, for the U.S., the console may be 600+, and physical games may be higher. A lot is happening, and we still don't know when we will hear about pre-ordering. I put my hat in the registration lottery on Amazon U.K. to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2, so I hope it works out. Everywhere else, the Nintendo Switch 2 is sold out. It will be the same here because of the scalpers and the overall excitement for the console. There is also a waitlist for the Switch 2 pre-orders through the Nintendo Store. Still, invitations are sent out on May 8th, and the requirements are high, especially in the U.K.
What’s Next?
It sucks that we, as fans and Nintendo as well, are trying to figure out this insane situation we're in. We hope the prices don't change, but only time will tell. There's a lot more to be worrying about than the Nintendo Switch 2, but having the thing you want to be excited about get overshadowed by everything else is too much to deal with. I am looking forward to trying out the Nintendo Switch 2, though. I am jealous of those who could get into the Switch 2 experience and try it out! What I've seen so far has been exciting, and I can't wait to play the games that were shown fully. Although the future looks bleak, gaming can sometimes shine through that fog.