Latest news with #MatPiscatella
CNN
05-06-2025
- Business
- CNN
The Nintendo Switch 2 launches today. Here's what to know
It's a big day for Nintendo fans. The gaming giant's new console, the Switch 2, arrives on store shelves globally after being announced in April — marking Nintendo's first major console launch since the original Switch arrived roughly eight years ago. And fans have clearly been waiting; 2.2 million people applied for a lottery system to buy the Switch 2 in Japan, according to a translation of an X post from Nintendo in April. Nearly all US Best Buy stores opened just after midnight to accommodate eager fans. The Switch 2, priced at $450 in the US, can be played in handheld mode, when propped up on a table; or on a TV when plugged in to its accompanying dock, like its predecessor. While the formula is the same as that of the original Switch, Nintendo has made significant upgrades to the hardware, including giving its new console a larger screen, upgraded versions of the Joy-Con controllers and new social features. Nintendo's decision to stick with a winning template for the Switch 2 is a testament to the original's popularity — but also a gamble that its success will endure for the better part of the next decade. While the 2017-era Switch introduced gamers to the concept of a home console that also serves as a portable game machine, the Switch 2 doubles down on that idea, amid growing competition from PC rivals like Valve and Lenovo that have emerged over the last three years. But Nintendo's catalogue of beloved characters and games could give it an edge against rivals. Gamers typically buy a Nintendo console because they want exclusive games, like 'Super Mario' or 'The Legend of Zelda,' despite owning another gaming device. 'The cross ownership rates historically between people that would own an Xbox or a PlayStation or a gaming PC, and who also own a Nintendo device, have always been pretty high compared to other systems,' Mat Piscatella, executive director for video game coverage at market research firm Circana, told CNN in April. The Switch 2 iterates its predecessor with several new features, including a Game Chat function that lets gamers communicate with other players by tapping a button on the console. Up to 12 players can chat at the same time, and players can share their screen in real time even when playing other games. Nintendo will also allow users to share certain games with other Switch owners while playing in person even if the other player doesn't own the title. Nintendo is also bringing some of its signature quirkiness to the Switch 2's social features; in addition to sharing their screen and video chatting with others, players' faces will pop up in a tiny bubble near their character in the Switch 2 edition of 'Super Mario Party: Jamboree' — an effort to make it feel like players are part of the game itself. However, it requires Nintendo's $55 camera that's sold separately. 'Being able to now take that (multiplayer) experience and virtually create it, we think, is something special, because we know more and more people are playing online,' Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser told CNN in April. The Switch 2's Joy-Con controllers, which attach to the Switch when it's being used as a handheld console or can be used separately, now support computer mouse-like functionality, unlike the previous version. That will allow players to drag the controllers across a surface — whether it be a table or person's lap — to control gameplay on screen. One new game called 'Drag x Drive' is designed around this idea; players pilot characters in powered-up wheelchair-like vehicles across a basketball court to shoot hoops by sliding and dragging Nintendo's new controllers. In the Switch 2 version of 'Metroid Prime 4: Beyond,' players will be able to move the Joy-Con like a mouse for more precise aiming when shooting enemies. 'People who may play on a PC with a mouse and a keyboard, that's an experience they can't replicate,' Bowser said. Nintendo has also given the console hardware a much-needed upgrade. The Switch 2 has a larger 7.9-inch display compared to the original Switch's 6.2-inch screen, and the Joy-Cons now snap to the console magnetically, which should make them easier to attach or remove from the console. The console has eight times as much storage as its predecessor and the dock supports 4K resolution, two changes that should give players more room to store games and improve how they look when connected to a compatible TV. Nintendo is pointing to these changes to justify the console's higher price, which is significantly above the $300 original. 'All of that lends itself to creating a price point that we think is a value to the consumer, because they'll see the benefit in all these features,' Bowser said. 'But it's also, we think, a reasonable price based on what we've been able to build into the device itself.' Nintendo's major launch title for the Switch 2 is 'Mario Kart World,' a new version of its popular cart racing game that lets players drive off-track to explore the world around them. Games coming later this year include 'Donkey Kong Bonanza,' which arrives on July 17, 'Drag x Drive,' 'Kirby Air Riders' and 'Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.' The Switch 2 can also run games for the original Switch, although Nintendo says on its website that some games may not be fully compatible or supported. But Nintendo is launching Switch Edition 2 versions of existing games that enable those titles to take advantage of the Switch 2's new hardware with improved visuals and new gameplay modes. Switch 2 editions of 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' and 'Tears of the Kingdom' are available now, while 'Super Mario Party Jamboree,' 'Kirby and the Forgotten Land' and 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' will get Switch 2 editions later this year. Yes, Nintendo still sells previous Switch models including the $200 Switch Lite, $300 standard Switch and $350 Switch OLED. That's a benefit for shoppers who don't want to shell out $450, but it could also eat into demand for Nintendo's new system — especially since many major new titles aren't out yet. 'The Switch being so successful is a double-edged sword,' Piscatella said ahead of the Switch 2 debut in April. 'On the one hand, a huge, great positive base to build on. On the other hand, a huge target to try to reach in terms of the same level of success.'
CNN
05-06-2025
- Business
- CNN
The Nintendo Switch 2 launches today. Here's what to know
It's a big day for Nintendo fans. The gaming giant's new console, the Switch 2, arrives on store shelves globally after being announced in April — marking Nintendo's first major console launch since the original Switch arrived roughly eight years ago. And fans have clearly been waiting; 2.2 million people applied for a lottery system to buy the Switch 2 in Japan, according to a translation of an X post from Nintendo in April. Nearly all US Best Buy stores opened just after midnight to accommodate eager fans. The Switch 2, priced at $450 in the US, can be played in handheld mode, when propped up on a table; or on a TV when plugged in to its accompanying dock, like its predecessor. While the formula is the same as that of the original Switch, Nintendo has made significant upgrades to the hardware, including giving its new console a larger screen, upgraded versions of the Joy-Con controllers and new social features. Nintendo's decision to stick with a winning template for the Switch 2 is a testament to the original's popularity — but also a gamble that its success will endure for the better part of the next decade. While the 2017-era Switch introduced gamers to the concept of a home console that also serves as a portable game machine, the Switch 2 doubles down on that idea, amid growing competition from PC rivals like Valve and Lenovo that have emerged over the last three years. But Nintendo's catalogue of beloved characters and games could give it an edge against rivals. Gamers typically buy a Nintendo console because they want exclusive games, like 'Super Mario' or 'The Legend of Zelda,' despite owning another gaming device. 'The cross ownership rates historically between people that would own an Xbox or a PlayStation or a gaming PC, and who also own a Nintendo device, have always been pretty high compared to other systems,' Mat Piscatella, executive director for video game coverage at market research firm Circana, told CNN in April. The Switch 2 iterates its predecessor with several new features, including a Game Chat function that lets gamers communicate with other players by tapping a button on the console. Up to 12 players can chat at the same time, and players can share their screen in real time even when playing other games. Nintendo will also allow users to share certain games with other Switch owners while playing in person even if the other player doesn't own the title. Nintendo is also bringing some of its signature quirkiness to the Switch 2's social features; in addition to sharing their screen and video chatting with others, players' faces will pop up in a tiny bubble near their character in the Switch 2 edition of 'Super Mario Party: Jamboree' — an effort to make it feel like players are part of the game itself. However, it requires Nintendo's $55 camera that's sold separately. 'Being able to now take that (multiplayer) experience and virtually create it, we think, is something special, because we know more and more people are playing online,' Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser told CNN in April. The Switch 2's Joy-Con controllers, which attach to the Switch when it's being used as a handheld console or can be used separately, now support computer mouse-like functionality, unlike the previous version. That will allow players to drag the controllers across a surface — whether it be a table or person's lap — to control gameplay on screen. One new game called 'Drag x Drive' is designed around this idea; players pilot characters in powered-up wheelchair-like vehicles across a basketball court to shoot hoops by sliding and dragging Nintendo's new controllers. In the Switch 2 version of 'Metroid Prime 4: Beyond,' players will be able to move the Joy-Con like a mouse for more precise aiming when shooting enemies. 'People who may play on a PC with a mouse and a keyboard, that's an experience they can't replicate,' Bowser said. Nintendo has also given the console hardware a much-needed upgrade. The Switch 2 has a larger 7.9-inch display compared to the original Switch's 6.2-inch screen, and the Joy-Cons now snap to the console magnetically, which should make them easier to attach or remove from the console. The console has eight times as much storage as its predecessor and the dock supports 4K resolution, two changes that should give players more room to store games and improve how they look when connected to a compatible TV. Nintendo is pointing to these changes to justify the console's higher price, which is significantly above the $300 original. 'All of that lends itself to creating a price point that we think is a value to the consumer, because they'll see the benefit in all these features,' Bowser said. 'But it's also, we think, a reasonable price based on what we've been able to build into the device itself.' Nintendo's major launch title for the Switch 2 is 'Mario Kart World,' a new version of its popular cart racing game that lets players drive off-track to explore the world around them. Games coming later this year include 'Donkey Kong Bonanza,' which arrives on July 17, 'Drag x Drive,' 'Kirby Air Riders' and 'Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.' The Switch 2 can also run games for the original Switch, although Nintendo says on its website that some games may not be fully compatible or supported. But Nintendo is launching Switch Edition 2 versions of existing games that enable those titles to take advantage of the Switch 2's new hardware with improved visuals and new gameplay modes. Switch 2 editions of 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' and 'Tears of the Kingdom' are available now, while 'Super Mario Party Jamboree,' 'Kirby and the Forgotten Land' and 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' will get Switch 2 editions later this year. Yes, Nintendo still sells previous Switch models including the $200 Switch Lite, $300 standard Switch and $350 Switch OLED. That's a benefit for shoppers who don't want to shell out $450, but it could also eat into demand for Nintendo's new system — especially since many major new titles aren't out yet. 'The Switch being so successful is a double-edged sword,' Piscatella said ahead of the Switch 2 debut in April. 'On the one hand, a huge, great positive base to build on. On the other hand, a huge target to try to reach in terms of the same level of success.'
CNN
05-06-2025
- Business
- CNN
The Nintendo Switch 2 launches today. Here's what to know
It's a big day for Nintendo fans. The gaming giant's new console, the Switch 2, arrives on store shelves globally after being announced in April — marking Nintendo's first major console launch since the original Switch arrived roughly eight years ago. And fans have clearly been waiting; 2.2 million people applied for a lottery system to buy the Switch 2 in Japan, according to a translation of an X post from Nintendo in April. Nearly all US Best Buy stores opened just after midnight to accommodate eager fans. The Switch 2, priced at $450 in the US, can be played in handheld mode, when propped up on a table; or on a TV when plugged in to its accompanying dock, like its predecessor. While the formula is the same as that of the original Switch, Nintendo has made significant upgrades to the hardware, including giving its new console a larger screen, upgraded versions of the Joy-Con controllers and new social features. Nintendo's decision to stick with a winning template for the Switch 2 is a testament to the original's popularity — but also a gamble that its success will endure for the better part of the next decade. While the 2017-era Switch introduced gamers to the concept of a home console that also serves as a portable game machine, the Switch 2 doubles down on that idea, amid growing competition from PC rivals like Valve and Lenovo that have emerged over the last three years. But Nintendo's catalogue of beloved characters and games could give it an edge against rivals. Gamers typically buy a Nintendo console because they want exclusive games, like 'Super Mario' or 'The Legend of Zelda,' despite owning another gaming device. 'The cross ownership rates historically between people that would own an Xbox or a PlayStation or a gaming PC, and who also own a Nintendo device, have always been pretty high compared to other systems,' Mat Piscatella, executive director for video game coverage at market research firm Circana, told CNN in April. The Switch 2 iterates its predecessor with several new features, including a Game Chat function that lets gamers communicate with other players by tapping a button on the console. Up to 12 players can chat at the same time, and players can share their screen in real time even when playing other games. Nintendo will also allow users to share certain games with other Switch owners while playing in person even if the other player doesn't own the title. Nintendo is also bringing some of its signature quirkiness to the Switch 2's social features; in addition to sharing their screen and video chatting with others, players' faces will pop up in a tiny bubble near their character in the Switch 2 edition of 'Super Mario Party: Jamboree' — an effort to make it feel like players are part of the game itself. However, it requires Nintendo's $55 camera that's sold separately. 'Being able to now take that (multiplayer) experience and virtually create it, we think, is something special, because we know more and more people are playing online,' Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser told CNN in April. The Switch 2's Joy-Con controllers, which attach to the Switch when it's being used as a handheld console or can be used separately, now support computer mouse-like functionality, unlike the previous version. That will allow players to drag the controllers across a surface — whether it be a table or person's lap — to control gameplay on screen. One new game called 'Drag x Drive' is designed around this idea; players pilot characters in powered-up wheelchair-like vehicles across a basketball court to shoot hoops by sliding and dragging Nintendo's new controllers. In the Switch 2 version of 'Metroid Prime 4: Beyond,' players will be able to move the Joy-Con like a mouse for more precise aiming when shooting enemies. 'People who may play on a PC with a mouse and a keyboard, that's an experience they can't replicate,' Bowser said. Nintendo has also given the console hardware a much-needed upgrade. The Switch 2 has a larger 7.9-inch display compared to the original Switch's 6.2-inch screen, and the Joy-Cons now snap to the console magnetically, which should make them easier to attach or remove from the console. The console has eight times as much storage as its predecessor and the dock supports 4K resolution, two changes that should give players more room to store games and improve how they look when connected to a compatible TV. Nintendo is pointing to these changes to justify the console's higher price, which is significantly above the $300 original. 'All of that lends itself to creating a price point that we think is a value to the consumer, because they'll see the benefit in all these features,' Bowser said. 'But it's also, we think, a reasonable price based on what we've been able to build into the device itself.' Nintendo's major launch title for the Switch 2 is 'Mario Kart World,' a new version of its popular cart racing game that lets players drive off-track to explore the world around them. Games coming later this year include 'Donkey Kong Bonanza,' which arrives on July 17, 'Drag x Drive,' 'Kirby Air Riders' and 'Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.' The Switch 2 can also run games for the original Switch, although Nintendo says on its website that some games may not be fully compatible or supported. But Nintendo is launching Switch Edition 2 versions of existing games that enable those titles to take advantage of the Switch 2's new hardware with improved visuals and new gameplay modes. Switch 2 editions of 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' and 'Tears of the Kingdom' are available now, while 'Super Mario Party Jamboree,' 'Kirby and the Forgotten Land' and 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' will get Switch 2 editions later this year. Yes, Nintendo still sells previous Switch models including the $200 Switch Lite, $300 standard Switch and $350 Switch OLED. That's a benefit for shoppers who don't want to shell out $450, but it could also eat into demand for Nintendo's new system — especially since many major new titles aren't out yet. 'The Switch being so successful is a double-edged sword,' Piscatella said ahead of the Switch 2 debut in April. 'On the one hand, a huge, great positive base to build on. On the other hand, a huge target to try to reach in terms of the same level of success.'
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
"It's not only chaos but an absolute clown show": Switch 2 price could still rise after launch in the US, analysts warn amid tariff uncertainty
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. At long last, the Switch 2 is almost here, and pre-orders have been flying off the shelves worldwide – despite the initial cries from many to "drop the price." But if you thought the new console was pricey now, some analysts have warned that there's "a real risk of further price increases in the United States." To see that tariffs were having an immediate impact on the Switch 2 situation, you need only cast your mind back a couple of months to Nintendo announcing that pre-orders were being delayed in the United States "in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions." Although some feared an immediate price increase could be on the cards, this didn't happen (even though certain accessories did get a price hike). A few weeks after this, GamesRadar+ reached out to a number of games industry analysts to get their take on the situation, and so we could ask if we should expect the console to get more expensive in the US down the line. And, yes, many do believe that the console might not remain at its current price tag forever. "If the tariff talks do not progress quickly and Nintendo runs out of the first batch of hardware, price increases are certainly possible," Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Japan games industry consultancy Kantan Games tells us. "It's not only chaos but an absolute clown show, so nobody knows what is going to happen even 24 hours from now." This is a point echoed by Circana executive director and games industry analyst Mat Piscatella, who tells us: "Absolutely, there's the potential for future price increases in the US for any video game product that is sourced from tariff-impacted countries. "As to how likely this is and the potential timing of further price increases, well, the crystal ball doesn't help much there," he continues. "The chaotic nature of the tariff rollout – and the rapid shifts in policy we've seen – do not provide a firm foundation for predicting scale and timing of potential price increases." On the other hand, David Cole, CEO of market research and consulting firm DFC Intelligence, is slightly more optimistic, noting that "when it comes to pricing, Nintendo is in a tough spot because they've announced the price." He adds: "If prices rise, many consumers may hold off waiting for them to come down. The threat of tariffs has been around for a while and we assume Nintendo modeled that in when doing the initial pricing. So we consider further price increases unlikely." However, games industry researcher Joost van Dreunen, who writes the SuperJoost Playlist and teaches at NYU Stern School of Business, isn't convinced that the price already being announced will protect the console from increases in the future. "There is a real risk of further price increases in the United States, despite Nintendo's public commitment to maintaining the initial price point," he tells us. "The economic pressures from abrupt policy changes present ongoing challenges that could necessitate adjustments. "While the recent 90-day tariff postponement provides temporary relief, it also creates additional market uncertainty," he continues. "If tariffs exceeding Nintendo's built-in buffer (which I estimate was designed for 10-20% increases) are eventually implemented, we could see price adjustments by late 2025." Van Dreunen notes that, while Nintendo "has historically emphasized economic accessibility, with inflation-adjusted console prices generally becoming more affordable over time," when it comes to the Switch 2, the console's "pricing trajectory represents a deviation from this pattern, reflecting both global inflationary pressures and the specific challenges of the current trade environment." He continues: "Rather than immediate price increases, we might first see changes in bundle configurations or reduced holiday discounting before formal price adjustments." Nintendo itself already noted when it announced the actual Switch 2 pre-order date in the US that "other adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are also possible in the future depending on market conditions." More recently, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser pointed out that the tariffs make for a "very fluid situation, and it's difficult to determine what may be happening in the upcoming months or weeks." At the start of last month, Xbox consoles got a significant price increase globally, with Xbox Series X consoles now costing $600 in the US – $100 more than before. This shortly followed what was the PS5's second price hike in less than three years in many countries, including the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia (notably not the United States). Let's just hope that Nintendo isn't set to follow in its competitors' footsteps here. Keeping up with Nintendo Switch 2 news? While you're here, make sure to check out our list of upcoming Switch 2 games. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
$80 Switch 2 and now Xbox games aren't a big shock, analyst says, and games haven't really been $70 for a while: "The average price people are paying ... is much higher"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. One gaming analyst reckons $80 games aren't too much of a shocker because gamers have typically been paying more than the base $60 or $70 price tag for a while. Nintendo made headlines with the Switch 2 reveal, partly because of the console itself but also because of its decision to launch Mario Kart World at $80, well above the $70 standard that most publishers had transitioned to during this console generation. It didn't take long for other companies to follow, either. Xbox just announced that at least "some" of its first-party games will also adopt the new $80 norm, which will potentially affect this year's Call of Duty, next year's Fable, or any number of upcoming releases from Xbox Game Studios. Circana's games executive director, Mat Piscatella, isn't hugely surprised. "The big games have not been 60 or 70 bucks for some time at launch," he said in an interview with GamesRadar+. "With all of the Collector's Editions and Gold Editions and Silver Editions and all these other things, the average price people are paying for a new video game on average is much higher than that base price, and has been for years, and keeps inching up. So I'm not as kerfuffled about the $80 price point as a lot of other people are, because, realistically, people have already been kind of spending that, whether they want to admit it to themselves or not." Publishers sure can charge whatever they like, but will people accept the change? Piscatella reckons the "the same kind of pushback" has always come for these types of price hikes, though it doesn't usually work. "Ultimately, if someone thinks a game is really cool, they want to play it, they're going to buy it at whatever price they need to buy it at," he explained. "That's just kind of the nature of the price-insensitive video game fan that wants to play the game they want to play." And if these $80 games sell well, then there's nothing stopping other publishers from adopting the same pricing: "Is $80 for that game gonna fly in the holiday window? And if it does, then we'll see people follow. And if it doesn't, maybe they don't." "It's up to that video game buyer whether or not they want to make that purchase, and generally, if a game's good enough, they will, and if a game is not good enough, or they're not excited enough about it, they won't," he continued. "And prices come down really fast. It's just the nature of the price sensitivity and the enthusiasm of the audience. So we'll have to see. I think [Mario Kart World] will be fine at launch. We'll see what it does in holiday." Commenting on the broader shape of today's industry, Piscatella points out that there's a much greater range of price points at different levels of the industry, from premium $80 games to topical hits like the $50 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and down to many free-to-play games. "Back in the physical-only days you had 50 bucks. That was it. That was the only game you got," he says. "Now, games of all sizes, all kinds, are priced in all kinds of different ways, and more free-to-play than ever. I know everyone's kind of focused on that top level, and sure, I get it, but in terms of the available options, there's so many all over the board, and it's more diverse than it's ever been. Publishers are much smarter about discounting and pacing, pulsing of the promotional pricing and how to keep that demand going. So, yeah, it's nothing new. This is nothing new that we haven't been through as an industry, over and over again for years and years and years. A day after our interview, Piscatella reacted to the fresh Xbox price bumps on social media: "This is going to eventually happen across all gaming products which are subject to 'market conditions' (ie tariffs). Was expected to happen. Is now happening. Will be happening more." Check out the new games of 2025 and beyond to see what might be affected. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
