Can anyone tell me why in the vast majority of cases in cross platform games the Switch version is the most expensive? (particularly if it's of the digital persuasion) I'm not really sure why I was expecting any different but I've just checked out Dead Cells on the UK eShop & once again it's the most expensive place to buy the game.. trust me Nintendo, folk aren't gonna keep handing over their cash for ever!
Because the Switch is the "hot, new" platform. So publishers feel they can get away with charging the "Nintendo tax". And so far they're not wrong. I can't count the number of indie developers who've gone on social media to talk about how the Switch version of their game has become the best selling version. Often times selling better than XBO, PS4, and PC combined.
On release the price is highest. That way you sell to anyone who is happy to pay that price to get it on release.
After a period sales drop off, so to make further revenue you drop the price, release extra content, or whatever, to drive further sales. At this point you aren't incurring new production costs, so it's better to sell at a lower price than not at all.
You can repeat that as often as you like, with new offers and so on. Eventually there will be negligible new sales however cheap it is.
The key thing is that releasing on a new platform starts the cycle fresh for that platform. It doesn't matter that you released the software 3 years ago on some other format. You have a new potential market that can be sold to at all price points.
The same is true for the Wii U ports. Your production cost is low because you only need to port the software. But the potential market is largely new, so you can sell at full price.
There's actually a similar business model in other media, such as books or movies.
@Miseryguts Physical is more expensive because of cartridges.
Except that physical releases are often the same price as the digital version. Add to that, some releases are cheaper on other platforms. L.A. Noire is a good example. Digitally, L.A. Noire was $40 on PS4 and XBO, yet it's $50 on Switch. Why? Because publishers can get away with it.
Switch Physical Collection - 1,537 games (as of December 22nd, 2025)
Switch 2 Physical Collection - 4 games (as of December 8th, 2025)
Because if it's high, they can get as much profit as possible, and if people don't buy? They can excuse themselves "look, we released it and not enough people buys it soooo, tough luck"
@darkfenrir Publishers are trying to make as much profit as possible, that's true. They can't also be shrugging their shoulders if they don't profit, that would just be silly. They might find they can't sell enough at enough profit and leave the market, but no publisher is going to deliberately enter the market with a view to failing.
@chardir Sometimes it feels like that though. But then again I insist only on buying things that I think is worth, so it never hits me particularly hard (This price disparity I mean)
I don't have a problem with game prices this generation. I have a problem with DLC and full games not being available on cartridge.
L.A. Noire was a pretty contemptible example, especially because they had the nerve to charge more for the Switch version, and yet the full game isn't even on the cartridge. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a little more from the publisher that released the PC version of GTAV on 7 DVD-9s (which certainly would not have been cheap).
For the most part, Switch games are great value for money, and relative to the competition, you are getting features and versatility that no other platform is capable of providing.
@Miseryguts Physical is more expensive because of cartridges.
Except that physical releases are often the same price as the digital version. Add to that, some releases are cheaper on other platforms. L.A. Noire is a good example. Digitally, L.A. Noire was $40 on PS4 and XBO, yet it's $50 on Switch. Why? Because publishers can get away with it.
This is because Nintendo wants price parity between the eshop and the physical store.
@Miseryguts Physical is more expensive because of cartridges.
Except that physical releases are often the same price as the digital version. Add to that, some releases are cheaper on other platforms. L.A. Noire is a good example. Digitally, L.A. Noire was $40 on PS4 and XBO, yet it's $50 on Switch. Why? Because publishers can get away with it.
This is because Nintendo wants price parity between the eshop and the physical store.
Again, this doesn't explain why the digital version is $40 on PS4 and XBO...
All this complaints about price is just that complaints. Unless someone can really give us insight compliants wont make it less. Remember they must break even or else that we all should know by now. It's only been recent game makers have survived and some haven't if one hasn't been keeping up with the Gaming maker news of whom survived and whom didn't. They can't just eat "Codes" so we need to understand this part as well. As the NSW is a hot seller nowdays sure they will raise it slightly but too much can get a nasty feedback as well. So there is a give and take to the game prices too much and no one buys and you know what happens to them-"Closed Game makers" and that is not helpful to us Gamers. Sure NIN can ask for more for the games but then again buyers are buying it so why are you complaining? This is all because some of us got pissed on by NIN but then again some of us understand the Game making business is not easy sector to survive in. So let's get off the "QuaterBack Couch" and take our licking for what it's worth. And if it cost to much don't buy it or wait for a sale to get it cheaper-of which it will evetually do. But if your trying to get CE/SE/LE for less and that is the complaint that is falling on deaf ears.
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Topic: Game Prices
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