The Nintendo Switch has been immensely popular, selling 132 million units over its seven-year run. As a result, some of its most popular games, like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, have become best-selling titles in video game history.
Due to their high sales, Nintendo Switch games are rarely discounted, making any price cuts particularly noteworthy. For example, the latest installment in the 2D Mario series, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, has recently had its price reduced, a rare occurrence for a game that is only three months old.
Originally priced at $59.99, the game is now available for $50 through select retailers, such as Amazon. This price reduction may indicate that Nintendo is preparing for the release of a successor to the Switch, with rumors suggesting an announcement may be imminent and a potential release before the end of 2024.
The price cuts on physical Switch games at retailers like Walmart further fuel speculation, with evidence of significant discounts on recently released titles such as Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. This suggests that Nintendo may be trying to maximize sales of current-gen games before the potential launch of a new console.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a new 2D Mario game exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, introducing new gameplay elements such as Elephant Mario and a playable Princess Daisy. Despite the price reduction, the game’s initial sales figures indicate it could still become one of the platform’s top-selling titles, with over four million copies sold in its first nine days.
Overall, these price cuts and rumors of a new console release signal a significant shift in Nintendo’s strategy and the potential transition to a new gaming platform, making current discounts on popular games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder particularly notable.