Nintendo Switch 2 Direct kicks off at 9:00 (EST), 6:00 (PT), 15:00 (CET) on April 2, 2025

[Seastar]

I was already worried ahead of time because the economy is really bad and I am too poor for something like this. My fears were very true. I don't know if I can get this? Even the games themselves are expensive.
But on the other hand, the thing I was looking forward to most got shown, which is Deltarune. It's not even exclusive to the Switch 2 so I don't have to worry about that. I guess I am also glad I didn't get teased with Splatoon 4 or something. I would have been so sad about missing out.
...New content in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, though... Why? I wish that was DLC for the Switch version, but it's not.
Oh no, there's a new Kirby Air Ride I can't get either.

 

[Rainbowhorn]

There's a lot to love, I like many of the games, but getting the console on release for that price is insane. A shame really

 

[Cetoddle769]

I CANT WAIT FOR THIS GAME TO COME OUT! HYPE!!!
YAHOOOOO!!!!!!!

Post automatically merged: Wednesday at 2:35 PM

Winter seems sooooo far away. How can I wait for this long??? I WISH I COULD GET A FREE SWITCH 2 WITH THIS GAME RIGHT NOW. I’m too impatient to wait!!!

 

[Halloqueen]

Oh boy.

I had already assumed that the price of the console would be higher, both because of the technical improvements and because of the tariffs that Trump has been imposing. I wasn't expecting that they'd raise prices on the games to $80 for digital and $90 for physical. The Switch 2's price itself is fine, but those individual game prices are pretty yikes. That's in the ballpark of approaching the sorts of prices some limited edition pre-order games have asked.

I was originally planning to get the Switch 2 to be able to play Pokémon Legends: Z-A with the better graphics, framerate and performance and in anticipation of future games that would interest me. But at $90 a pop, and with an original Switch version available, I might just not bother. I need to upgrade my PC this year, so I might just put Nintendo on the back burner and get to it later down the road.

It's cool to see that Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is one of the games that will eventually be available via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack GameCube emulator so that more people can play it. It's a shame, though, that it's paywalled in that way. I've never gotten the Expansion Pass on the original Switch and definitely have no intention of doing so here.

Mario Kart World looks cool. People are rightfully excited about playable Moo Moo, but I noticed someone else who I'm also excited for:

I've never been good at platforming games and haven't played a whole lot of mainline Mario, but I definitely played some Super Mario 64 in my childhood and have fond memories of those penguins.

Also, King Boo is looking dapper. If I get the Switch 2 and this game, I'll definitely have to unlock this costume:

You know who isn't looking dapper though? Donkey Kong. Look how they massacred my boy.

Spoiler: Warning: Graphic

#NotMyDonkeyKong

I know that's not new, we've seen his new look in a previous Mario Kart teaser, but I really dislike his movie tie-in design change. I'm used to the way he's looked for decades.

---

Overall feel kind of bleh about this Nintendo Direct. The game price hike really took the wind out of my sails.

 

[Croconaw]

That Mario Kart game alone will have me buying the console on release day. If anyone’s down for some friendlies then, let me know!

I hope Lemmy is playable?

 

[Kitsuragi]

i was so excited to buy a switch 2 but i'm not about to pay $80+ for games. go all the way to hell with those prices. especially on a $450 console from a developer thats notorious for never putting their games on sale. this is absolutely too expensive.

all my hype died with this pricing.

 

[himekirako]

the price, ESPECIALLY in cad, has me clutching my pearls... i had anticipated it being more than the first switch but my goodness it hurts. definitely something i'll have to sit on and see if it's truly worth getting it

on another note @Xara i couldn't help but think of you when i saw him

 

[Paperboy012305]

That Mario Kart game alone will have me buying the console on release day. If anyone’s down for some friendlies then, let me know!

I hope Lemmy is playable?

If only I can get it on release day somehow, the price for the Switch 2 is atrocious!

You're right, I haven't seen the Koopalings at all. I don't think they got axed, but probably to be revealed later as they're not anticipating characters to get excited over, unlike the new characters that don't seem fitting to drive a vehicle, that can get anyone's attention.
I'd say the same can be said with the crossover characters, though I'm sure they're saving their reveal for later as they "could" have some amazing surprises in the crossover department. But to me, I just want my Male Villager back.

 

[nightglow]

Koopalings could be an update in the future or as part of a dlc thing.

 

[deana]

This is me after thinking about prices

Halloqueen took the words out of my mouth. I'm not so worried about the console itself having a high price tag but the game prices

I didn't want to be interested in the new Mario Kart game but... it looks amazing not gonna lie. I don't think that alone will be enough for me to grab this at launch but I can see exactly why it will be for some people.

I don't mind the improved chat features. Having to chat through the Switch App was extremely clunky. I don't know how much I would use it though. The camera doesn't appeal to me at all, if I'm at home playing video games that's when I'm looking my worst and nobody needs to see that

I'm very excited about GameCube games coming!! I do have a functional GameCube but not a lot of games for it so I would love to get to play some of the ones I missed out on. So far I have not upgraded to the Online + Expansion but GameCube games might be worth it for me.

 

[LateGamer]

Ok so I am seeing some talk that digital games will be $80 USD and physical $90 USD?? Can anyone confirm with a reliable source?

This right here will be the number 1 reason I don’t buy a Switch. They are going to be pricey, I only play a select number of first party games, and I am NOT gonna pay $80-$90 per game. Maybe gaming is going to crash in the near future when people decide there is just no way to justify that kind of cost…especially for a Switch. I am sure there will definitely be a die hard group of gamers who will go ahead and pay as prices continue to climb. And I don’t even begrudge them, that’s cool. I’m just saying the overall numbers of players are going to drop and then that’s gonna be an issue for developers.

 

[nightglow]

Does anyone have any insight as to why a nintendo digital game should be priced at $80?
I know games are not easy to make and stuff. Is Japan's economy hurting and workers needing better wages? (I don't live there)

 

[azurill]

The price of games is definitely something that worries me. I don’t know how much longer I can justify buying games that high especially when I have so many unfinished. I know it will be awhile before I decide if it’s worth it or not.

 

[~Kilza~]

First, let me just say I really hate how early this Direct was. 7 AM is meant for sleep, not video game news! Anyways, I enjoyed this Direct! The fact it's releasing in 2 months is pretty exciting! From a hardware perspective, I'm perfectly okay with "Switch, but better". GameChat is silly, definitely not something I see myself using (especially with the camera) but I suppose it's nice for the people that do want something like that!

I'm sold on Mario Kart World based on what they showed already. Like, I'm genuinely looking forward to free roam and being able to explore these worlds with friends instead of competing with them on them, lol. The tech demo is cute, but having to pay for it is silly when something like Astro's Playroom already came installed with the PS5. The Switch 2 upgrade packs for games that have already been released like SMPJ and BotW/TotK are interesting, but I honestly don't know how likely I am to get any of those upgrade packs. Donkey Kong Bananza looks interesting, something I'll end up getting eventually. Honestly, I don't mind the DK redesign as much after seeing the trailer for it. Kirby Air Riders was a surprise, I never got a chance to properly play Air Ride but I'm looking forward to this one!

Seeing that they're adding GameCube games to NSO+EP, as somebody who already subscribes to that level, is honestly exciting. Like I'm definitely looking forward to being able to play more GameCube games through it, especially the Pokémon games please somehow release Skies of Arcadia: Legends on there. I'm also half-tempted to get the GameCube controller at some point. Lots of third party support, with the highlights for me being the new Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment game, and Split Fiction. So definitely a lot for me to look forward to already with the games coming to it!

I think the one thing that really gives me pause is just how expensive it is. Like $630 CAD (pre-tax) for just the console, $700 CAD (pre-tax) for the bundle with MKW is definitely a lot more than I was anticipating. The cost of games going up is one thing, but physical games now being like $10 more than digital admittedly makes me sad as somebody who prefers the physical versions. Still, I know long-term it's something I want, and I'd rather be able to play with people in Mario Kart World right away and experience the best possible version of something like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond as well when I get it, so I'll go ahead and get it in two months despite my reservations about the pricing.

 

[Airysuit]

I was very hyped until i heard of the prices lol... well over 500 euros if you buy console + 1 game... not sure if that's worth it so early

 

[Devicho]

Does anyone have any insight as to why a nintendo digital game should be priced at $80?
I know games are not easy to make and stuff. Is Japan's economy hurting and workers needing better wages? (I don't live there)

Honestly, perhaps it's just my pessimism talking, but I really think the only reason digital games are that expensive is because they figure enough people will pay that price. There's no particularly good reason that digital games should cost almost as much as physical when a big draw to going digital is not having to spend money on manufacturing and shipping out cases and cartridges, but Nintendo is ultimately a business, and if people will pay that price, then why would they lower it?

Sadly (?), I think I will not be jumping in on the Switch 2 train myself. The prices aren't looking great, and I barely use my Switch as-is, so right now I'm only budging if down the line there's both a price cut and a decent enough library of things I'm actually enticed by (and can't play elsewhere).

 

[skarmoury]

Did a little more thinking and I'm thinking maybe they're marketing the camera feature for youtubers It feels like such a niche item lol.

Anyway I can't believe the games are gonna cost around $80-$90? Really disheartened to hear that. It sucks that they're preying on the FOMO of long-term fans of the series, but I guess they've predicted this for long now and continue to use it as a marketing strategy. With each new console release I'd have less and less games because they're just getting more expensive throughout the years. For many of the games I'll just probably buy them secondhand once the hype dies down.

I joked about it a little but the Nintendo prices are pushing me to become less and less of a console game and more of a PC gamer. And it sucks because I grew on console games, but the prices are just not reasonably accessible anymore.

 

[Bruscoe]

I could care less about how much the console itself costs, but $90 for a top-tier physical game? Are you kidding me? As someone who still prefers physical over digital, this is just straight-up highway robbery. If we were talking about deluxe editions, then I'd understand, but come on. Inflation has been a huge problem since the pandemic and corporate greed has still gotten out of hand. I'm not even going to touch the political side of the matter with a ten foot pole. All I'll say is that society in general is garbage.
Not you guys; I love y'all so much!

Now that my personal disdain of our political and economical climate is out of the way, I'll talk about the Direct now...​

• Mario Kart World: Now this grabbed my attention. I absolutely love this concept, having played games of similar caliber such as Need for Speed and Forza Horizon. While I do own Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, I haven't played it in a long while because I can't find a reason to keep coming back to it. With the new free roam feature, there could be quite a few possibilities to do many silly things and roam around with friends. Oh, and I'd never thought that a cow from Moo Moo Meadows of all characters would become playable. That's hilarious.
• Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour: I wouldn't be talking about this "game" if it weren't for the fact that you have to pay for it. Why couldn't they just bundle it with the system itself a la Wii Sports? Now back in my day, Windows XP came bundled with a welcome tour in 2001 that was very well-made and free. Paying for this makes zero sense.
• The console itself: As I mainly play in docked mode, not a whole lot of hardware specs were revealed, though it does support 4K resolution at 60FPS, which is nice. The internal storage being increased to 256GB with additional microSD EX storage is also a plus, alongside an additional charging port on the top. The dock has a built-in fan, which should help cool the system when playing high-intense games. The voice chat feature seems alright, but I kind of doubt the tiny microphone's ability to pick up voices from across a living room while also filtering out unwanted noises. The camera is also something I wouldn't use (and it sort of reminds me of the XBOX One's Kinect, yuck), but I really do wonder how efficiently it removes backgrounds like it does. They seemed to advertise the JoyCon's ability to be used as a mouse quite often, and honestly, that's something I really did not care about. But hey, it allows a game centered around wheelchair basketball to be created!
• The pro controller: Of course, this is something I'd pick up if I get the console. Nice to see it now comes with a microphone port.
• Expanded Switch 2 games: I really did not have much to say about these, but at least there a new story being added to Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which could be worth getting the upgrade pack.
• Nintendo GameCube: Ah, yes. I knew this would happen. Still, I'd rather buy the games separately than have them be bundled with a monthly subscription, but online Mario Kart: Double Dash is actually something I'd be intrigued to see happen at some point. Also, that GameCube controller is going to sell like hotcakes.
• FORTNITE BATTLE ROYALE CONFIRMED FOR SWITCH 2 OH YEAH MR. KRABS AHHHHHHHHHHHH whatever
• Kirby AirRiders: I never thought they would ever make a sequel, with Sakurai's involvement nonetheless! I loved the original game as a kid, and I nearly cried happy tears when I recognized the other stars racing on-screen. I can't wait to see more!
• Donkey Kong Bananza: This looks pretty cool. A 3D Mario-esque platformer is always a treat, and I'm really not bothered at all by Donkey Kong's redesign. Destroying a bunch of stuff sounds like fun!

No Animal Crossing stuff, which was what I expected. We'll see if anything gets mentioned in the fall regarding that, but man. Mario Kart World is something I really want to try out, but I don't think I'll be purchasing the console this year as I do want to be somewhat conservative about my spending habits. That will likely happen when the next Animal Crossing title is announced.

 

[Snap Crackle Pop]

I am trying to figure out if I really want to or need to buy the Switch 2 right away, I really do enjoy the Mario Kart games and it really does look like a lot of fun. I'm just not sure how I feel about the price especially when I remember the Switch not being that expensive when it first released and even the games are way more expensive compared to the switch games (and even some PS5 games for that matter) My concern is though that the console will be really hard to get once more games come out that people want which is what happened with the switch for some time.

I also really like that Nintendo is doing this like presale thing with those who have an NSO account and have played 50 hours of the switch. I think it is really smart to help curb resellers and bots.

What is selling me though is the GameCube stuff like Wind Waker which I had on the Wii U but my Wii U broke or is lost so I never got to complete it or play it through. I'm also excited for other games as well.

 

[Hat']

I was somewhat satisfied with this direct! The mario kart part was super exciting and silly, I love all the little critters you can play as and the karts look sooooo cool! Idk how to explain it but they have this Cars 2 old cars type of vibe? I love it.
I didn't care much for other games tbh, and I'm sort of shocked we got to see this new DK game instead of a new mario 3D, but whatevs!
Seeing the kirby Air Riders trailer also made me think it'd be smash lol.

Now for the terrible news, the price. I'm pretty poor and this is the first console I'll be buying with my own money so it'll be tough, but $450 is wild. I had to double take the price because I thought I somehow ended up on a canadian site or something? I would've been okay with it if games were not $90 for physical copies. This is CRAZY and I can't help but think about what this means for the future.
I guess I'd be willing to pay this much for a game such as BOTW (and even then this is wild), but MKW, as gorgeous as it is, is absolutely not $90 gorgeous. Does this mean all Nintendo games will have this price? Will Tomodachi Life 2 have this price ? Because baby there's no way in hell a Tomodachi Life game is worth more than $40.
Considering this, if AC6 ends up costing this much it better be FILLED to the brim with content à la New Leaf, because paying $60 for ACNH on release already felt like I'd been robbed.
I really hope they reconsider altough it's very unlikely.
I also wanted Miis and seeing march's direct somehow made me hope they'd be back? With the little videos showcasing them or Tomodachi Life, but apparently not!
The UI also looks bland as hell, if they don't give us actual themes I'm gonna be so mad because I feel like this is what people have been asking for YEARS. Maybe I live in a bubble or something but why would they not listen to what's being spammed under each and every one of their posts?
I learned to not trust Nintendo too much, and to be prepared for disappointement and I got it.
The game department, artists and devs really gave it their all and it shows but whoever was in charge of marketing and setting up these prices... you will be dealt with and karma will find you is all I'll say!