Nintendo Defends Mario Kart World's $80 Price Tag

Mario Kart World will justify its $80 price tag once Nintendo unveils everything there is to know about the game, according to Nintendo's Bill Trinen. Speaking to GameSpot, Trinen said Nintendo looks at each game on a case-by-case basis when it comes to pricing, which is why Mario Kart World is $80 and some other Nintendo Switch 2 games might cost less.

"We'll look at varying prices and things like that for software based off of just how robust the experience is," Trinen said, reminding us that there is an upcoming Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct on April 17 that promises to show off more of the game and its features.

Trinen went on to say, "People will get to learn more about that game. And I think that as they start to learn more about that game, they're going to be pretty excited about the content that's offered there."

Speaking to IGN about the same subject, Trinen said said Nintendo priced Mario Kart World at $80 as part of a calculation of the game's overall value.

"It's less about the strategy of pricing Mario Kart World, it's more just whenever we look at a given game, we just look at what is the experience, and what's the content, and what's the value?" he said.

"This is a game that is so big and so vast and you will find so many little things in it to discover. And there's still some other secrets remaining that I think as people end up buying and playing the game, they're going to find this to be probably the richest Mario Kart experience they've ever had," he added.

Of course, Trinen would do whatever he can to hype Mario Kart World--that is his job. Time will tell if people embrace Mario Kart World at $80.

Mario Kart World is not the Switch 2's only $80 game, as the Switch 2 editions of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom also carry that higher price point. Some games are less, as Donkey Kong Bananza is priced at $70.

According to one retailer, video game prices need to go up to maintain the overall stability of the market.

Mario Kart World is a Switch 2 launch title, arriving alongside the system on June 5. Mario Kart World is included with the Switch 2 in a $500 bundle, though some believe the price might go up due to tariffs.