Nintendo Answers That Not All Future Games Will Be Priced At $70

One of the most controversial topics in gaming over the past couple of years is not the avid acquisition race among publishers and platform holders, but instead the new transition to $70-priced games. While the $60 price tag was around for more than a decade, company point towards increase production to warrant a higher asking price – especially for the newest console hardware and its respected capabilities.

Since then, the largest entities have embraced this: Sony Interactive Entertainment, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, and even Microsoft most recently. And it was even revealed the PlayStation firm considered charging even more for its premium, first-party releases. Most recently, we witnessed this with the latest update on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom this week.

The game was momentarily priced at $69 on Amazon before being pulled. However, Nintendo confirmed this with the reveal of the game’s Collector’s Edition after the latest Nintendo Direct. In a statement to Game Informer, Nintendo confirms this will not apply to all games and will be judged “case-by-case”.

On the reasoning for the $69.99 price tag for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom:
We determine the suggested retail price for any Nintendo product on a case-by-case basis.

On if this is the trend for Nintendo titles going forward:
No. We determine the suggested retail price for any Nintendo product on a case-by-case basis.

As mentioned, this decision will be only for a select few titles on the way. So far, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has pioneered this decision for the Japanese firm. Other flagship titles on the way including Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, Pikmin 4, and even Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is priced normally.

Not to mention that some premium announcements are actually being priced lower than anticipated. Metroid Prime Remastered which released on Wednesday in a surprise reveal only costs purchasers $40 instead of the proper $60 for a full game. So truly it is a decision that Nintendo will be putting into consideration thoroughly rather than being blanketed on.

Most recently, it was revealed by CEO Shuntaro Furukawa pressed on its pricing for hardware. While the current state for its titles are fluctuating, there is more certainty that Nintendo Switch hardware will remain priced at its current retail listing for the foreseeable future. You can read the full report by heading here.

What are your thoughts on the statement from Nintendo?