Last year in 2025 on June 5th, 2025 Nintendo released the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. The console is a big improvement in almost every aspect compared to the original Nintendo Switch that was released in 2017. It has a bigger screen, better graphics, backward compatibility with Switch 1 games, and much more. Overall it’s a huge improvement, and has been personally one of the biggest consoles on my got-to-get list. However I have been hesistant in buying into the console for a few reasons.
If we could step back into a time machine in 2017 a lot in life was different the internet different, gaming different, Nintendo… Very different. The Original Switch came out at a time when Nintendo had a lot to prove, and no margin for errors. In 2017, Nintendo was very strategic and fighting for their lives to ensure that the company had a bright future after the failure of the Wii U. They had to carve a way forward that would ensure a upwards trejectory for the company. Consunmers doubted the switch, and didnt believe Nintendo had any fight left in them, but they proved everyone wrong.
IN 2017 upon release the Nintendo Switch had one of the biggest first party console games to launch with The legend of Zelda Breath of the wild! BOTW was a instant hit, and ushered a path of success for Nintendo to make one of the industry’s biggest comebacks. In the next upcoming months we got Mario Kart 8, ARMS, Splatoon 2, Mario Rabids, Pokkén Tournament, Super Mario Odyssey, Fire emblem Warriors, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and so much more! This was a exciting time to adopt the console, and scalpers were running wild causing issues with inventory. It was almost impossible to get a Nintendo Switch in it’s first year, but it was very much so worth the hassle to obtain one.
Moving forward to today, we got the much awaited sequel to the beloved original Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch 2. As I stated earlier the Nintendo Switch 2 is a improvement in almost every way, but this time something feels a bit different. The drive, and need to get one feels a bit different than the original. At first I believed it was the pricing point $450 – $500 USD for the console is a bit pricy admittedly, but not impossible to achieve. The first party games are compelling but they aren’t on the got-to-get levels of the original Nintendo Switch. It took me awhile to truly grasp what happened, and why the Switch 2 didn’t feel as exciting as I originally thought the concept to be, but after months of deliberation I believe I finally realize what is different this time.
Nintendo has changed since 2017, and the family friendly consumer first atmosphere has become a relic of the past. When the original Nintendo Switch was released Nintendo was a different company, the quality of the games were undeniable, and it was no question of whether or not a game was worth purchasing because quality always came first. Since June Nintendo has released a few first party games that were intriguing, but not with a mouth watering need. The games have been decent, but they have admittedly been missing the magic that most have come to expect from the 136-year-old company.
Mario Kart world was a great concept, but still needs some ironing out before it’s fully a worth the $80 price point. Donkey Bananza is trully a marvel, but it can get a bit repetive at some point. The nintendo Swithc 2 welcome tour should have been free software, and is honestly a bit greedy considering the nature of the title. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a refreshing spin on the franchise, it just need a bit more complexity and more secenery. Kirby air riders was a chaotic in the best way, just a little redudant. These games have all been decent in their own way but they havent trully pushed the envelop further than what we’ve come to expect from Nintendo. Truthfully the biggest game that gives me the most hope was Pokémon Pokopia.
Pokémon Pokopia is a system seller plain, and simple. Pokopia showcases the Pokémon Universe in a way that we’ve never seen before, and it manages to recapture some of the key elements of that very magic that The legened of Zelda: Breath of the wild bought to the orignial switch. It isn’t as formulaic as what we’ve come to expect from Nintendo, if I see another Mario Tennis remake I will honestly Scream! Part of what made the original Nintendo Switch one great was the fact that it was innovative, and fully supported by the company without any handheld variants. The under dog effect also came into play because everyone counted Nintendo out but they rose to the occasion swinging, and thriving for a whole new generation.
Purchasing a Nintendo Switch 2 is more than a investment into gaming experiences, it has become somewhat of a morale choice of standing for whats right for the consumer or choosing to side with a multibillion dollar company. Before we really dive into this lets run through the numbers. In USD the Nintendo Switch 2 is currently $450, and $500 if you purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle.
Currently, the membership ranges from $3.99 monthly to $19.99 for 12 Months. Family memberships are $34.99 for 12 Months, or if you prefer the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack it’s 49.99 for 12 Months for a single person or $79.99 for a family for 12 Months. If you want to play online with friends you have to purchase a membership at some point unless you plan to play single player games exclusively. Replacement Joycons for the Switch 2 is currently $99.99, and around $89.00 for the original switch.
Last year in 2025 on June 5th, 2025, Nintendo released the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. The console is a big improvement in almost every aspect compared to the original Nintendo Switch that was released in 2017. It has a bigger screen, better graphics, backward compatibility with Switch 1 games, and much more.
Overall it’s a huge improvement, and has been personally one of the biggest consoles on my got-to-get list. However, I have been hesitant in buying into the console for a few reasons.
Looking back at 2017
If we could step back into a time machine in 2017, a lot in life was different: the internet different, gaming different, Nintendo… Very different. The Original Switch came out at a time when Nintendo had a lot to prove, and no margin for errors.
In 2017, Nintendo was very strategic and fighting for their lives to ensure that the company had a bright future after the failure of the Wii U. They had to carve a way forward that would ensure an upwards trajectory for the company. Consumers doubted the switch, and didn’t believe Nintendo had any fight left in them, but they proved everyone wrong.
The 2017 Launch Magic
In 2017 upon release, the Nintendo Switch had one of the biggest first party console games to launch with The legend of Zelda: Breath of the wild! BOTW was an instant hit, and ushered a path of success for Nintendo to make one of the industry’s biggest comebacks.
In the next upcoming months we got Mario Kart 8, ARMS, Splatoon 2, Mario Rabbids, Pokkén Tournament, Super Mario Odyssey, Fire emblem Warriors, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and so much more! This was an exciting time to adopt the console, and scalpers were running wild causing issues with inventory. It was almost impossible to get a Nintendo Switch in its first year, but it was very much so worth the hassle to obtain one.
The Switch 2 Reality
Moving forward to today, we got the much awaited sequel to the beloved original Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch 2. As I stated earlier, the Nintendo Switch 2 is an improvement in almost every way, but this time something feels a bit different. The drive, and need to get one feels a bit different than the original.
At first, I believed it was the pricing point: $450 – $500 USD for the console is a bit pricey admittedly, but not impossible to achieve. The first party games are compelling, but they aren’t on the got-to-get levels of the original Nintendo Switch.
It took me a while to truly grasp what happened, and why the Switch 2 didn’t feel as exciting as I originally thought the concept to be, but after months of deliberation I believe I finally realize what is different this time.
A Culture shift
Nintendo has changed since 2017, and the family friendly consumer first atmosphere has become a relic of the past. When the original Nintendo Switch was released Nintendo was a different company; the quality of the games were undeniable, and it was no question of whether or not a game was worth purchasing because quality always came first.
Since June, Nintendo has released a few first party games that were intriguing, but not with a mouth watering need. The games have been decent, but they have admittedly been missing the magic that most have come to expect from the 136-year-old company.
• Mario Kart World was a great concept, but still needs some ironing out before it’s fully worth the $80 price point.
• Donkey Bonanza is truly a marvel, but it can get a bit repetitive at some point.
• The Nintendo Switch 2 welcome tour should have been free software, and is honestly a bit greedy considering the nature of the title.
• Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a refreshing spin on the franchise, it just needs a bit more complexity and more scenery.
• Kirby air riders was chaotic in the best way, just a little redundant.
These games have all been decent in their own way but they haven’t truly pushed the envelope further than what we’ve come to expect from Nintendo. Truthfully, the biggest game that gives me the most hope was Pokémon Pokopia.
Gaming done right Pokémon Pokopia
Pokémon Pokopia is a system seller plain and simple. Pokopia showcases the Pokémon Universe in a way that we’ve never seen before, and it manages to recapture some of the key elements of that very magic that The legend of Zelda: Breath of the wild brought to the original switch.
It isn’t as formulaic as what we’ve come to expect from Nintendo. If I see another Mario Tennis remake I will honestly scream! Part of what made the original Nintendo Switch one great was the fact that it was innovative, and fully supported by the company without any handheld variants. The underdog effect also came into play because everyone counted Nintendo out, but they rose to the occasion swinging and thriving for a whole new generation.
The cost of entry
Purchasing a Nintendo Switch 2 is more than an investment into gaming experiences; it has become somewhat of a morale choice of standing for what’s right for the consumer or choosing to side with a multibillion dollar company. Before we really dive into this, let’s run through the numbers.
In USD, the Nintendo Switch 2 is currently $450, and $500 if you purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle. Currently, the membership ranges from $3.99 monthly to $19.99 for 12 Months. Family memberships are $34.99 for 12 Months, or if you prefer the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack it’s 49.99 for 12 Months for a single person or $79.99 for a family for 12 Months.
If you want to play online with friends you have to purchase a membership at some point unless you plan to play single player games exclusively. Replacement Joycons for the Switch 2 is currently $99.99, and around $89.00 for the original switch.
Final Thoughts
Long story short: when you account for the membership, the accessories, and the $70-$80 games, you have numbers that are a lot more extensive than what you would expect. At one point Nintendo was considered the cheaper option out of the big 3 gaming companies: Playstation, Xbox, and Nintendo.
Nintendo games have always been the more affordable, and the quality of games were very exceptional. It separated them from the competition and didn’t make you think twice about the video game you were investing in.
Since these price changes, Nintendo games have been getting more criticism because our current economic climate has made people more wary about what they purchase. Greed is always questionable when quality isn’t at the standards that people come to expect, and this has caused people to become a lot more strategic and wary of what they purchase.
Nintendo has a long battle coming going forward into the future, but if they continue to reinvest into duplicating the magic and quality standards people have enjoyed for decades, they should be fine. My only hope is that consumers are always at the forefront of every major change, and not only investors, because part of what gives Nintendo a leg up for so many decades has always been their willingness to push their IPs forward, and the innovation they always bring into the spotlight.
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