Nintendo Switch 2 - A Console of Controversy

After years of rumours and speculation, the Nintendo Switch 2 finally has a release date and is available in Australia for pre-orders via online stores such as JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks, EB Games and Big W. The console will come out on June 5th, 2025. Switch 2 is shaping up to be a worthy follow-up to the original while refining the already brilliant hybrid experience of playing on both a TV and handheld. Despite all of the improvements in both the console’s power and overall aesthetic, there is a huge amount of controversy and criticism towards the Nintendo Switch 2 and the games on its roster.

In this article, we will break down all of the current controversies from both fans and critics about the Nintendo Switch 2, the games coming to the console, and the experience of playing the games.

Nintendo Switch 2

The console itself has received a positive reception from both fans and critics. The larger screen and Joy-Cons, the added feature of using the Joy-Cons as a mouse, and the improved game performance (based on what we have seen) are fantastic. However, the Nintendo Switch 2 has become a subject of controversy due to its price. In Australia, the Nintendo Switch 2 console retails for $699, and the console bundled with Mario Kart World costs $769! 

The cost of living crisis and inflation are obviously making any form of commodity more expensive, including games and consoles. But considering the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 on its own, it is still very expensive, especially when you compare it to the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Currently, the PS5 Slim retails at JB Hi-Fi for $799.

Of course, the PS5 is $100 more than the Nintendo Switch 2, and the PS5 is a dedicated home console rather than a hybrid console. Nevertheless, the PS5 is still a current-generation console, and it has been out for over four years. Taking into account the sheer power of the PS5, the Nintendo Switch 2 is significantly less powerful because of its handheld capabilities, and graphically intense AAA games like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077 have to be optimised and changed in order to run at a stable frame rate and resolution on the Nintendo Switch 2. The Switch 2 also has less storage and power; while it is impressive for a handheld console, compared to other handhelds like Valve’s Steam Deck and the ASUS ROG Ally, it lacks true power. 

Comparing the Nintendo Switch 2 to a Steam Deck or ROG Ally may be an unfair comparison; the latter systems function as PC handhelds, but they are still game consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2. The Nintendo Switch 2 has the same problems as the original Nintendo Switch; it lacks the power and capabilities to compare to current consoles. The lack of power makes the system pricing excessive. At least the Nintendo Switch retailed at $349 in Australia at launch, which was $200 cheaper than the price of a PS4 at launch. I understand that the Nintendo Switch 2 is more powerful and has a lot more modern features compared to the original Switch, so I expected it to cost more. But the Nintendo Switch 2 costs DOUBLE what the original Switch was at launch!

Mario Kart World

Before diving into the controversy, all of the exclusives shown for the Nintendo Switch 2 so far look incredible. Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Kirby Air Riders, and The Duskbloods are all games I cannot wait to play. However, it would be unfair to discuss these games without taking into account the controversy surrounding their price. This controversy refers to Mario Kart World, in particular, a Nintendo Switch 2 launch title.

Whether you have no interest in Mario Kart World or absolutely cannot wait to play it (like myself), the price of the game has been a sticking point for many fans and critics. The disappointment was hit hard by fans who ended up spamming comments during a Nintendo Switch 2 Treehouse livestream, stating, “Drop the price.” 

When a console exclusive came out for the original Nintendo Switch, the retail price for a physical copy in Australia was $69; the only exceptions were bigger budget exclusives like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which retailed for $79. This generation has seen a notable increase in the price of console exclusives. The PS5, for instance, retails a console exclusive at $109 for a physical copy and upwards of $124 on the PS Store. Games are getting more complex and are, therefore, more expensive to make and take longer to develop. In theory, the increased price is justified from the perspective of publishers and developers, but from a consumer’s perspective, it is a disappointing realisation. Video games are not a cheap hobby, and buying into the current trend of a new console release does not have the same traction as it once did. All of this controversy is consuming the anticipation of the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World in particular.

Mario Kart World is the first brand-new Mario Kart game in more than a decade. The original Nintendo Switch was the first Nintendo console since the SNES not to get a dedicated Mario Kart game; Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was a port from the Wii U. Because of the hype surrounding the game and the amount of new content in the game, it was a heavy blow when Nintendo revealed that the game would cost $114 in Australia. Once again, consider the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 against the PS5 Slim, as well as how much power it lacks. Also, consider the cost of Sony exclusives compared to Mario Kart World. A physical copy of Mario Kart World is more expensive than a physical PS5 game, and the console you play it on is packing less power than its competition. No matter what way you look at it, it does not matter if Mario Kart World turns out to be the best kart racer of all time; the price of the game is astronomical.

In Australia, the pricing of physical Nintendo Switch 2 games has dropped slightly. When pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 began, Mario Kart World retailed at JB Hi-Fi for $114, but it is now at $109. Similarly, Donkey Kong Bananza was $104, and it is now $99. Even though the price has dropped, it is still not cheap. At the very least, they are matching the price of current PS5 exclusives, even if the Nintendo Switch 2 is a lesser system in terms of power.

The most affordable way to get Mario Kart World with your Nintendo Switch 2 is to buy the bundle of both the game and the console for $769. Yes, it is expensive, but you will be saving $39 this way. The quality of Nintendo Switch 2 games will be known when the console comes out, but the controversy so far has been enough to turn away some loyal fans.

The Game Cartridges

I have not seen the same level of controversy about this element of the Nintendo Switch 2. It is not as disappointing as the price of the console or the games, but it is still a sad situation for gamers who prefer playing physical media as I do. 

In terms of presentation, Nintendo Switch 2 game cartridges are the same size and shape as the original, but they are now red instead of black. The redesigned cartridges are all fine and dandy, but the controversy is when you realise that physical Nintendo Switch 2 cartridges do not contain the game on them. Instead, cartridges act as keys that you use to download a game from Nintendo’s servers. 

There are many positives to this idea; cartridges are not locked to a particular Nintendo account so that you can share them with your friends. In addition, it allows for games with large file sizes not to be limited by the capacity of a cartridge. All of this makes the game-key cartridges sound like a good idea for Nintendo to combat the limited storage of the Switch 2 compared to home consoles. The downside is that you effectively own a game cartridge without a game on it. You are paying for the packaging it comes in, and the cartridge is no different from getting a download code in a box.

I love the convenience of owning digital media, but I have always preferred having a physical copy of a game. Holding a game box, looking at the cover and artwork, and inserting the disc or cartridge into a console is a nostalgic and satisfying thing to do. I do understand that physical games are declining, and game companies are shifting focus to digital storefronts like Steam to sell their games. The state of cartridges is a much more subjective opinion, but I am not a fan of owning a game cartridge that does not have the game itself on it, despite all the positives it does bring. If the game is not on the cartridge, then what is the point of buying a physical copy rather than buying it on the Nintendo eShop?

Nintendo Switch 2 - A Console of Controversy: Summary

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been coming for a long time, and we are finally closing in on its release date. I am excited for the console, so much so that I have pre-ordered mine bundled with Mario Kart World. Yet, despite my excitement, it is hard to ignore the disappointment and controversy surrounding some aspects of the Nintendo Switch 2. The price of the console is expensive for what you get; the games themselves are just as costly, and owning a physical game is starting to lose its relevance.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has already become the subject of controversy, but a definitive answer to whether the controversy is justified or proven wrong will come when the console comes out.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will be released worldwide on June 5th, 2025!