TheNintendo Switch 2is an exciting console, and if sales numbers are anything to go by, it’s already massively popular with gamers everywhere. Unfortunately, there’s already a glaring issue with the Switch 2’s catalog:every third-party, AAA game is full price. With more choice than ever in the marketplace for buying games, and a competing handheld console offering dramatically lower prices, this choice seems like a huge mistake.
Gamers everywhere are choosing to be thrifty with their purchases, and with the rise in popularity of $10 indie games likePeak, Balatro,andMage Arena,spending full price on older AAA games doesn’t seem feasible. If Nintendo continues to charge $60+ on games over two years old, then it definitely won’t be the console of choice for players who want to stretch their dollar.
Switch 2’s Third Party Games Are Too Little, Too Late (With A High Price Tag)
Full-Price Titles, Even Years After Release
When it comes to the Nintendo Switch 2, a significant question is why anyone wouldpay full price for AAA games that are several years old. Titles likeHogwarts Legacy(2023) andCyberpunk 2077(2020) are listed on the eShop for their day-one release prices, which is a significant blow to the walletfor new AAA games. Paying full price for games that cost half as much on other platforms is a tough sell.
With other AAA games rumored to have their ports to the Switch 2 in the near future, likeRed Dead Redemption 2,it seems unlikely that Nintendo will change up its pricing model. Nintendo famously never wavers in the pricing of their titles, and it appears that strategy may be here to stay for third-party releases as well.
Steam Deck Offers Better Value
For Older Games, Steam Provides More
For anyone who wants to play recent AAA titles likeHogwarts Legacy, Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077,andBorderlands 4on the go,the Steam Deck seems like a much more obvious choice of console. Unlike the full-price selections available on the Switch 2, the Steam Deck allows players to access their Steam library, which also means access to thenumerous sales Steam offersthroughout the year.
AAA games that are a few years old are often available at full price on Steam, but simply waiting a month or two for a sale will usually result in finding games for 50% off or more. While the Switch 2 does boast some superior hardware features over the Steam Deck, the better pricing available on the Steam Deck meansplayers would likely get a lot more out of their console for less. If being a thrifty gamer is a priority, then the Steam Deck beats out theNintendo Switch 2.
