Nintendo is undoubtedly one of the most well-known and influential names in the digital entertainment world. In the 1970s, it was one of the first companies to enter the videogame industry and has since built its empire with innovative consoles and lasting game franchises. Beloved by many, Nintendo had a profound effect on the gaming world, but being a multi-billion-dollar company comes with an ethical responsibility to consumers that it has failed miserably at.
Nintendo announced its newest console — the Nintendo Switch 2 — at its Nintendo Direct showcase on April 2. Excitement for new games and reboots was high until the price was revealed. $449.99 for a console is not unheard of, but the hidden prices reveal Nintendo’s exploitative and corrupt purpose with this release.
Many of the new features Nintendo boasts about are not included without extra costs. The new “C” button on the right Joy-Con is painfully obsolete without a Nintendo Online membership, costing $19.99 annually. Pressing this button enables “gamechat” — a glorified voice chat with screen sharing. An additional purchase of their new $50 camera is required to enable video. The price along with the horrid video and audio quality highlighted at Nintendo Direct left customers rightfully appalled. Platforms such as Discord are the apparent alternative, providing the same services for free and at a higher quality.
The “Welcome Tour” game that walks users through Switch 2’s added features has been priced at $10. Any price tag for a tutorial is ridiculous. Users deserve to know how their new hundreds-of-dollar product works. Games have received price spikes too, with many costing at least $70. If users wish to play their old Switch games with enhanced graphics, purchasing an “upgrade pack” or the Nintendo Online membership is required. Nintendo’s greedy profit keeps piling up, and with it, gamers’ frustrations everywhere.
On top of all these costs, Nintendo has already paved the way for their next products, which will surely be priced just as absurdly. They went back to an LED screen after upgrading the Nintendo Switch to an OLED, suggesting the possibility of the same upgrade with the Switch 2 at a higher price point. Colorful Joy-Cons were also left in the past in favor of grey and barely visible colored accents. The unique color combos were a staple, and just like before, various colored Joy-Cons will likely be sold to lure gamers into spending even more.
Multi-billion-dollar companies like Nintendo have no reason to charge so much. Its corrupt capitalistic ways grossly exploit consumers who they know will dish out the money, thanks to Nintendo’s elite status in the gaming world. Instead of the new features, users should turn to free apps like Discord, where they will have a higher-quality experience. It would be better to stick with the perfectly fine original Nintendo Switch instead of supporting a company that does not care for its supporters and prioritises excessive profit.
English
Spanish