Switch 2's First-Party Games' MSRP set a Dangerous Precedent for GTA 6

The April 2 Nintendo Direct finally revealed some long-awaited news: the retail price of the Nintendo Switch 2 console, its hardware, and some of its launch titles, such as Mario Kart World. Speculation about the price of the Switch 2 has been rampant since the console's reveal earlier this year, with many speculating that it would be significantly more expensive than the original Switch and that its games would also increase in price compared to Switch games. The expected increase in price did come, and has led to further speculation that upcoming highly anticipated games such as Grand Theft Auto 6 might be even more expensive than previously theorized.

Nintendo Switch Online is getting a massive upgrade for the Nintendo Switch 2, skyrocketing its appeal for fans of classic games.

The Nintendo Switch 2 itself was revealed to cost $449.00, a significant increase over the Switch, which launched at $299.99 during its 2017 debut. It comes with a dock, two Joy-Con controllers plus grips and straps, and multiple cables including HDMI and USB-C. Another option for people who wish to purchase a Nintendo Switch 2 at launch is a bundle that includes a digital copy of launch title Mario Kart World in addition to everything that comes with the base version of the Switch 2. This bundle will sell for $499.00.

However, Mario Kart World, which will launch on June 5 alongside the Switch 2, will sell for significantly more than $50 it adds to the bundle. A digital copy of the game will retail for $80, while a physical copy will cost $90. The prices of other Nintendo Switch 2 launch titles, such as the Switch 2 editions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, were not confirmed, but are suspected to be similarly high. This is a fairly significant price jump compared to Switch games, which, as of 2025, typically cost $59.99.

The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 is another game that has seen much speculation about its launch price. Currently, the game, which is being developed by Rockstar Games and is the follow-up to 2013's Grand Theft Auto 5, is speculated to launch in Q3 or Q4 of 2025, with a specific release date not yet revealed. Previously, a common launch price theorized for the game was $80, as it is a large, highly anticipated open world title from a major publisher. However, with Mario Kart World going for $80 in its digital version, the initial price of Grand Theft Auto 6 could be even higher.

It is not impossible that Grand Theft Auto 6 could see a launch price of $90, $100, or perhaps even higher than that - a practically unprecedented cost for the Day One edition of a game that does not come with any physical bonuses. Earlier in 2025, what seemed to be a leaked pre-order listing for Grand Theft Auto 6 suggested a price of $112, which financial analyst Michael Pachter told VideoGamesChronicle was a realistic possibility given the game's scale, hype, and online component.

However, Mario Kart World's price of $79.99 / $89.99 may not in fact be the standard for every single Nintendo Switch 2 game going forward. Donkey Kong Bananza, which was announced at the end of the April 2 Direct, will sell for $69.99, a full ten dollars cheaper than Mario's latest outing. This doesn't necessarily mean that the rumors about Grand Theft Auto 6 are unfounded, but it could lead to some hope that Mario and Grand Theft Auto will be outliers rather than representing an overall major jump in the price of games. Ultimately, nothing will be confirmed until Rockstar reveals Grand Theft Auto's price - but, as things stand, a fairly high number would not be a huge surprise.

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I hate how fast prices are hiking. Especially with Nintendo never lowering their mainline games. This is just going to make Gamepass more and more of a deal as long as they don't increase it too high.

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