Nintendo Switch 2: the end of a golden age for indie games?
You can’t have missed the news this month: Nintendo has finally unveiled the much-anticipated Switch 2. A console that succeeds an iconic machine, driven as much by the industry giants as by the enthusiasm of a particularly vibrant indie scene. But whilst the specs are reassuring – on a par with a PS4 Pro – it’s the price that’s raising eyebrows: €469 on its own, over €500 as a bundle. And a boxed copy of Mario Kart World for €89.
- Written by Louise Blas
A different pricing strategy
This pricing strategy, unprecedented in the Japanese console maker’s history, marks a break with the past. The original Switch had succeeded in creating an ecosystem favourable to indie games, thanks to its affordability and simplified porting process. However, with a much more expensive console, pricier AAA titles, and a launch line-up dominated by blockbusters already seen elsewhere, many small developers fear a loss of visibility.
Even more worrying: some smaller studios haven’t even received their development kits yet, whilst major publishers have had plenty of time to work on their ports. Working blindly from a simple spec sheet is a risky gamble. But can we really ignore the potential economic benefits of Nintendo’s new flagship?
The Nintendo Switch 2 will undoubtedly be a success. The question remains whether it will retain the DNA that made its 2017 predecessor so successful: that of a console welcoming to all creations, from the most modest to the most ambitious.