On Sept12, fans from across the world cleared time out on their calendars to watch the latest Nintendo Direct.
The Nintendo Direct is a special livestream the company hosts a few times a year to show off their latest games, products, services and other endeavors. The latest presentation was the first traditional direct aired since the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 in June.
The previous installment, which aired April 2, caused quite a stir among fans due to the prices of the Switch 2 and its games. The console itself is 450 dollars (a 150 dollar increase from its predecessor,) and the launch title “Mario Kart World” is just shy of 80 dollars, with subsequent AAA games being priced at 70 dollars. Many considered this a dangerous precedent, and the latest presentation has all but confirmed that suspicion.
That’s not to say nothing good game out of the Direct. The “Super Mario Galaxy” movie’s title reveal sent many dorks hearts aflutter, and the subsequent reveal that the Galaxy game duology will be playable on Switch 2 is welcome for a company reluctant to keep old titles playable.
“Yoshi and the Mysterious Book” continues a trend of innovation with the Mario cast, and it’s intriguing to see Pokemon branch out into a new niche with Pokopia. More Kirby information is always a treat, and “Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream” looks just as delightfully quirky as the 3DS entry, with all the kooky customization features the heart could desire. Those are just a few highlights.
Yet very soon after the hype and the excitement of it all dissipate, the dark underbelly reveals itself in the price points, conveniently only found tucked away on a website.
The bundle for “Super Mario Galaxy” and its sequel retails for 70 dollars— 70 bones! Both games on their own will run buyers 40 dollars. Mind you, the “Super Mario All-Stars” bundle for the switch, which contained 3 full game ports (including “Super Mario Galaxy,”) was only 60 dollars. This is failing to mention the accompanying pair of amiibo figurines, which are also 40 dollars a piece.
Speaking of amiibo, Kirby Air Riders also debuted a pair that will cost 50 dollars each. It is notable that these amiibo come with matching cart accessories and will have special functions within the game, but it’s still such a massive hike from past products that it boggles the mind.
Additionally, “Donkey Kong Bonanza” received a 20 dollar DLC only two months after the game’s launch. It includes a singular new area and a few underwhelming game modes. This is the kind of update that would’ve been free on the regular switch. Can you believe fans used to complain about the free-update model? Now, it looks like charity.
Another painful reveal was the 100 dollar replica of the infamous “Virtual Boy,” a 90s-era Nintendo console that flopped so egregiously that it has been relentlessly dunked on by gamers in the decades since. Why the company thought reviving a console that brought physical discomfort to its users was a good idea is anybody’s guess. Making old games accessible is exactly what the Nintendo Online catalogue is for—at this point, it’s pure ego.
There is so much promise in everything shown in the direct, and the developers and creatives behind each endeavor deserve a massive round of applause. But Nintendo’s gotten too full of itself, riding the high of their explosive Switch success— and no amount of amazing content can excuse this blatant cash-grabby behavior.
If one wishes to indulge in their favorite stories and worlds, they have to break the bank to do so, and it never feels good. Yet, we do it anyway. And can you blame us? It hurts to have the properties you love so much lie in the hands of a cocky corporation.
This is not a call to boycott, or anything of the sort. Your money is your money and you should spend it however you are so inclined. Please, engage in your geeky obsessions to your heart’s content. But it is undeniable that Nintendo’s recent demands are getting increasingly difficult to justify.
When compared to rival companies and even indie studios, Nintendo’s greed is apparent. Communities online are seething, with backlash in just about every thread and comment section involving the company. Unfortunately, there’s no clear-cut solution. There are no ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future to magically teach Nintendo their lesson. For now, it seems the best bet is to hope mainstream audiences get fed up, too.
