Nintendo rocked the video game world last week with the unveiling of its new console the Switch 2, its price and, most surprisingly, a driving cow.
The Switch 2, releasing on June 5, will cost $450 for just the console and $500 for a bundle that comes with “Mario Kart World,” the latest entry in the racing series. Gamers were overjoyed at the first official information on Nintendo’s next console, but the high price (the Switch launched at $300 in 2017) left many dismayed. The Switch 2 news also came amid President Donald Trump’s rollout of U.S. tariffs that have caused the stock market to drop and prices of many goods to increase. On Friday, Nintendo paused Switch 2 pre-orders “in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions” in the U.S. The June 5 launch date is unchanged, but U.S. gamers will have to wait a bit longer before they can pre-order a console.
Outside of the price, “Mario Kart World” made headlines for being the biggest iteration of the popular racing series. With 24 racers on a track, more than 50 characters to choose from and a massive open-world to drive around, it’s Nintendo’s most expansive “Mario Kart” game ever. Out of all the characters, however, the Moo Moo Meadows cow went viral online for its surprising inclusion in the roster.
With Variety, Devon Pritchard, executive vice president of sales, marketing and communication at Nintendo of America, discussed the Switch 2 reveal and what to expect at its launch.
How did the unveiling of the Switch 2 go over at Nintendo?
It was incredibly exciting to see the reactions of people that were able to see the Nintendo Direct or be here and have the hands-on with the different titles. When “Mario Kart World” was announced it was quite loud. Seeing the smiles and the really positive reactions from everyone just made it a momentous day for us.
Speaking of “Mario Kart World,” what did you think of the cow going viral online?
With “Mario Kart World,” “Donkey Kong Bananza,” “Metroid Prime 4:Beyond,” you saw this powerful gameplay and franchise-firsts. “Mario Kart” never looked like it looks in “Mario Kart World,” whether it’s a cow or some of the other features, like Knockout Tour or Free Roam. Seeing the joy brought to how we’re looking at those franchises and how they’re continuing to evolve is really exciting. We enjoyed as well the conversation around the social connections that Nintendo Switch 2 is bringing with game chat.
The Switch 2 so far has “Mario Kart,” “Donkey Kong,” “Mario Party” and “Metroid” games on the way. How does Nintendo look at its console lineups to make sure its classic characters are represented?
When you think of the world of Nintendo and how many characters and worlds there are, we’re just excited by the opportunities we have to share what’s ready. You have “Mario Kart” and the Mushroom Kingdom for folks, and Donkey Kong has his day and his moment. With “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond,” we spent time getting it ready. It’s a long time coming for this title, so we’re excited to share that as well. The lineup has “The Legend of Zelda” Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, Kirby and all the third party partners. When you look at this entire slate of the Nintendo Switch 2 lineup, you have really diverse genres of games, but also the different characters and worlds that we’re going into.
“Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” is the best-selling game ever on the Switch. What are the expectations for “Mario Kart World”?
As we thought about “Mario Kart World,” it was more about what this game could showcase with the Nintendo Switch 2. It’s this vast, interconnected playground, and you’ve got things that you love. It’s about bringing new experiences to the “Mario Kart.” It’s a well known and beloved franchise, but for the first time, you’re going to Free Roam, where you’re able to go and tour your kart around the world. Now we have Knockout Tour, where 24 people are going to be able to determine who the best player is. It was this idea of, how do we bring what’s known and loved, and how do we also expand the experience? We also brought in game chat. You have the ability to bring in 12 of your friends through audio, and up to four with video with compatible cameras, and you’re going to be able to have a different kind of experience that you can only have on the Nintendo Switch 2.
What has Nintendo learned about launching a console since the Switch came out in 2017? Is there anything the company is doing to make sure there aren’t console shortages at launch?
We are working to ensure a study supply. That’s one important part for us. We also have a strong slate of titles, both in the first party and third party. I don’t know that those are as much learnings as opportunities that we see with Nintendo Switch 2. This proposition of powerful gameplay and a social experience together is a really unique aspect of Nintendo Switch 2 that we’re focused on. I don’t know that it’s a difference between the Switch and Switch 2, but this concept of a next generation platform is the idea of having an all new Joy-Con 2 controller that can also play as a mouse. It’s bringing mouse functionality into games. It’s having game share, game chat. As we look at that next generation experience, it’s all new with Nintendo Switch 2.
