What a year for Nintendo to finally release the Switch 2. The new console promises to be everything fans could hope for—a more powerful iteration of the beloved original. However, global economic uncertainty has made the Switch 2 a more complex proposition. Add to that the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, and the $450 USD console price along with the $80 USD price tag for Mario Kart World has turned the Switch 2 into a contentious topic amidst the rising costs of games and gaming hardware worldwide.
To understand how the world is reacting to the Switch 2, I reached out to editors from various IGN brands around the globe. Here's a look at the mixed reception the Switch 2 is receiving.
How the Rest of the World Feels About the Switch 2
After consulting with editors from IGN sites in Europe, South America, and Asia, the response to the Switch 2 has been varied. The hardware enhancements, such as a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR, and 4K output, have been well-received, but the absence of an OLED screen is seen as a significant drawback.
“As far as reception goes, IGN Italia’s readers are predominantly dissatisfied with the Nintendo Switch 2,” says IGN Italy editor-in-chief, Alessandro Digioia. “Among hundreds of comments across news articles and social media, the main concerns revolve around the price point, the lack of an OLED screen, the absence of a trophy/achievement system, and a modest launch line-up. While some third-party announcements were welcomed, many readers expected more from Nintendo’s first-party titles.”
IGN Portugal’s Pedro Pestana echoed similar sentiments from their readers: “Personally, I'm not that impressed with Switch 2, as it is basically a souped up Switch 1 - better in every sense, but without the novelty factor of the original. That being said, I reckon it's gonna come down to the games, and Mario Kart World looked damn nice.”
Other regions seem more receptive to the Switch 2’s hardware improvements. IGN Benelux’s Nick Nijiland reports mostly positive feedback despite the price: “We have seen in our region that the console has been received very well. People complain about the price, but at the same time, the console sold out within hours. We put up a post on our website stating that we would let our readers know through our Discord server when pre-orders went live and our Discord got so many new members that day, it was insane.”
IGN Turkey’s Ersin Kilic shares positive views from their region’s readers: “When I look at the comments, it is seen as positive that Nintendo corrected the points criticized on [the first] Switch. Although the console is stylish and uses LCD, the fact that the screen is much better was received positively.” However, Kilic adds, “the most criticized point was that Hall Effect was not used in Joy-Con 2,” which some gamers hoped could minimize the risk of Joy-Con drift.
IGN China’s Kamui Ye provided a balanced perspective: “The reveal event has been met with widespread disappointment due to its lackluster launch title lineup and perplexing regional pricing strategies.” Additionally, Ye notes that the absence of new titles like Mario, Legend of Zelda, or Animal Crossing was a negative. “However, optimism persists among core fans regarding Nintendo's long-term plans,” Ye adds. Despite concerns over battery life and horsepower, loyal fans prioritize backward compatibility, hardware refinements like magnetic Joy-Cons, and Nintendo's history of iterative software support.
“Ultimately, the brand's entrenched fanbase seems willing to tolerate short-term missteps, betting on Nintendo's historical ability to refine its platforms through compelling games over time,” Ye concludes.
Hardware Price and Tariff Fears
Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 Console Slideshow
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The Switch 2 is set to launch at a $450 USD price point in the United States, but pre-orders have yet to begin due to ongoing tariff issues with President Trump. This has led Nintendo to reconsider its rollout strategy ahead of the June 5 release date.
In Europe, where tariffs are less of a concern, pre-orders are already underway. “In Germany, nobody is really worrying about the tariff situation regarding the Switch 2,” says IGN Germany’s Antonia Dressler. However, the retail price itself remains a point of contention.
“There are a lot of complaints about the pricing of the console… and [readers are making] direct comparisons with the pricing of the PS5 [which] is seen as the better console,” explains Dressler. Despite the complaints, pre-orders are still coming in.
The Switch 2's price positions it in direct competition with the PS5 and Xbox Series X, complicating the choice for global buyers. “At the moment, Nintendo's official website is taking pre-orders and the price is R12,499,” says IGN Africa’s Zaid Kriel. “It is not crazy pricing, but it's now in the same bracket as the PS5 and Xbox Series X. It's no longer a cheaper alternative, and that could be a problem, especially with the increase in game prices Nintendo has introduced.”
Purchasing the Nintendo Switch 2 with accessories will be costly. “The pricing problem pretty much overshadowed everything going on around the Switch 2 reveal, good or bad,” IGN France editor-in-chief, Erwan Lafleuriel, says. “The debate is raging mainly about prices, but I believe because it was kind of easy to overshadow a reveal lacking in many other aspects. Part of that is... we already knew most of what was revealed from the leaks. And there is no impressive 'one more thing' to add. Even in terms of games, it's good, but it feels like something is missing.”
In regions outside the United States, tariffs are also a concern. IGN Brazil’s Matheus de Lucca explains, “The current tariff war initiated by the United States makes the scenario even worse for Brazil, since the Real is a weak currency compared to the dollar and an increase in the price of the Switch 2 in the United States will most likely have a huge impact on the whole of Latin America. The scenario of uncertainty and a possible increase in the price of the console could make the Switch 2 accessible to only a very small group of players in the Brazilian market.”
Japan presents a unique situation where Nintendo is launching a region-locked version of the hardware at a lower price point to protect its domestic market. “I think Nintendo knew they couldn’t go over 50,000 yen in Japan – the weak yen means the relative pricing scale is very different here,” says IGN Japan’s executive producer, Daniel Robson. “But presumably they also realised that if the console was much cheaper here than anywhere else, people would try to import it or buy all the stock when they visit Japan. Hence the region lock – our cheaper Switch only plays Japanese games and supports only Japanese accounts. I’m sure this is a direct result of the global trade situation.”
Robson adds, “The price is still high, and will be tough for many families here, but it's far more competitively priced than the 77,000 yen PS5. Not to mention that Japan is firmly a Nintendo country – the house of Mario dominates the console Top 10 week in, week out, so I doubt families here will be able to go without a Switch 2. That said, as a parent, I’m secretly relieved that my daughter hasn’t asked for a Switch 2, as the price puts it comfortably over the bounds of a birthday present.”
Software Price Remains the Biggest Pain Point
Despite the hardware cost and tariff concerns, the most significant issue for many is the price of software. Nintendo's decision to price Mario Kart World at $80 USD has sparked widespread criticism. Although Nintendo has stated that pricing will vary by game, with other Switch 2 launch titles ranging from $70 USD to as low as $10 USD, the move has fueled fears of even higher game prices.
“Game pricing is by far the biggest issue raised, not only by our readers but by the Italian gaming community at large,” says IGN Italy’s Digioia. “Many feel that Nintendo's new pricing structure is unjustifiable, especially in light of recent increases that came with the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S era (when AAA titles moved from €70 to €80). Now, Nintendo is pricing some first-party games at €90, which has caused considerable concern - particularly given the company's historically conservative approach to discounts. The €9.99 price for Switch 2 Welcome Tour sparked additional backlash, and even the paid upgrade paths for existing Switch games are widely seen as another way to extract money from loyal customers.”
“People are pissed,” IGN Germany’s Dressler says plainly. “Especially with the 90 Euro for Mario Kart World, that is a record for a video game in Germany; not even titles like Assassin’s Creed cost as much (talking about the base version). It also seems ridiculous that the tutorial game will cost anything — Nintendo just looks absurdly greedy right now.”
While Mario Kart World's $80 price is the main issue, the $10 charge for Switch 2 Welcome Tour has also drawn ire. The sentiment is echoed across IGN comment threads, where the high price of games is seen as particularly burdensome during a time of rising living costs. In mainland China, where there are no plans for an official release, gamers might turn to the gray market, with stock coming from Japan and Hong Kong, where game prices are somewhat lower.
“Regarding pricing, game prices in Hong Kong and Japanese editions are relatively lower compared to Western markets. Observations from social media comments under our content show most players find the official price acceptable,” IGN China’s Ye says. “While the console itself has seen some price hikes, users generally consider it more cost-effective than handheld PCs like Steam Deck, especially with backward compatibility support. Based on our data, Chinese mainland Nintendo Switch 1 players appear largely receptive to the official Nintendo Switch 2 price increase.”
Despite the challenges, it seems likely that the Switch 2 will succeed—it's a recognizable upgrade to one of the most popular consoles ever. Yet, the threat of $80 games during economic hardship has dampened enthusiasm for many prospective buyers. Additionally, uncertainties about the North American launch due to tariffs and potential global stock shortages due to international politics remain. What is evident from conversations with IGN’s global staff is that Nintendo has generated excitement worldwide, albeit with more caveats than usual.
