Nintendo Switch Lacks Pack-In Title Because It's $299, Says Reggie Fils-Aime

While I don't think it hurts the hardware sales, I just don't see a lot of people paying full retail of $50 USD for 1-2-Switch. It has some cute ideas but this is not a $50 game. Even my wife, a casual gamer who likes this type of stuff said she would only pay $20 to $30 max for it.

I worry for 1-2-Switch. As a pack in (while keeping the price at 299) they might have had a viral hit that sells the system. As it stands, I can't see many people buying the game.

To clarify my first post, if Nintendo priced it at $350 to include this and I found out I paid $50 more because of this game, I'd be a little pissed

Given current information I'd probably be happy paying £20 for a download. I'll else get it when it's cheaper.

Being a bit honest, I feel like games like Arms will be the ones that become the viral hit. The sort that make hardcore genres approachable for casuals.

At the event I took my boyfriend along who isn't much of a gamer as I am. Within a couple of minutes we were already being very competitive

1-2-Switch is really suited for people who like to throw a party or have a good time

I don't like the Cdn price point of $399. At least with Sony I could get a PS4 and a game for a lot cheaper than the cost of the switch and a game. Probably close to a hundred dollars cheaper.

Everybody enjoyed their time with wii sports, but who would have bought it ?
At the very least, having a "budget" title with the line up would help undecided buyers. Because I can hear the "we are doing a 300 bucks console", but when you're at your game shop, you're not dumb enough to forget that you're still paying 360+ dollars if you want to do more than just watch youtube videos on your Switch.

They are crazy. I don't even think they look at the competition. You can get a ps4 with a game for less and a triple aaa game like uncharted not a crappy mini game collection like 1/2 switch... Guaranteed 1/2 switch will be a pack I within a month when this thing flops. And that won't help sales either.

This kind of shows you how out of touch they really are. "Obviously the inclusion of the two Joy-Con, critically important; all the right cables, the dock, critically important."
As consumers I would assume it should come with the right cables?! The dock is a joke in terms of being overpriced and there is no reason why a controller should cost over 40 quid let alone over 65!
Nintendo still feel the need to make us gamers think that we're stupid. I can see a similar price cut that happened to the 3DS occurring.
Overpriced hardware for a console that (at the moment) has shown no real mass support from 3rd parties and very few launch titles to show us what it is all about.
Sorry about the rant. Was really looking forward to picking this up day one but will most likely put on hold when the price comes to at least 250 with a game

I have it preordered to see how much it's gonna drop price before launch, but I am going to cancel if it's like 50€ in Germany :/

i'll be totally shocked when they announce the 2017 holiday bundle packed in with a game.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe would be the perfect choice.

@Pokefanmum82 oh yea it's crazy expensive in Canada when you throw in 15 percent sales tax. With Zelda you are at 550 cad. Probably get a ps4 with a game and a few used gamed for that much...

Yeah, I assumed 1,2,Switch would be a pack in. Can't see many people slapping down $50 for it versus Breath of the Wild or Mario Odyssey. BUT it wasn't 'no cost' for Nintendo to develop and produce, plus there's opportunity cost for the units they would have sold, hypothetically.

The Switch is not cheap if it's compared to the PS4 Slim and Xbox One S. Bundling 1-2-Switch with it would have helped the price to seem a little more bearable, and I think Nintendo missed a trick by not doing that.

Australian buyers in the same position as Canada. Our $ are about the same right now.

Console $470 AUD, Zelda $90 AUD. That's $560. Anyone who thinks im buying a gimmick party game 1,2, Switch as well is delusional! I could be buying a PS4 Pro. I'm still not sure whether I will do that instead, at least there's more than 4 games on ps4.

1-2-switch just looks, to me anyways, a load of stupid mini games that no one will care about after playing once, which would have been perfect as an introducer to the switch dynamics, just like Wii Sports. It wouldn't have cost them anything to just pre-install it, but that's the money making way of current Nintendo

I can get what Reggie means but i still think their making a mistake by not having the 1-2-switch bundled with the switch but we shall see.

"Stupid is as stupid does"

My family bought the Uncharted 4 bundle for 200 pounds last year... I know the PS4 has been out for a good few years at this point but surely Nintendo can do the same with a game like 1 2 Switch?

Either way, I'll be waiting for the inevitable MK8D/Odyssey bundle this holiday.

As much as I sometimes understand what he's saying, I don't think it makes any sense to not have a pack-in title. I might try it but what I saw in the trailer for the game felt underwhelming compared to their other launch games. Let's just see what happens.

Wii Play is a bad comparison. That was basically free with a wiimote.

Happy they left it out if it meant bumping up the switch price! Even if it was only a tenner!

Nintendo would have to pay me to play 1,2, switch lol

It's funny because in Australia the Switch costs more than the Wii/Wii U at launch yet doesn't come with a game. I only decided to buy one today when I snagged the LE Zelda game. Without that I might as well buy it on Wii U and wait for more games to release and a bundle/price cut.

The argument doesn't hold at all. They needed a pack in title, specially at that price, and 1,2 Switch was the perfect choice. I doubt it will sell well without being a pack in.
If they didn't want to take a hit on the hardware, they could have taken a hit on the software, to avoid this scenario.

I'll buy it when it gets cheaper like PlayStation 4. Holiday 2017 with Mario with price drop guaranteed

I enioyed Wii Sports and Nintendoland both with people and some on my own and they were both pack ins. 12Switch looks like a collection of some two player only quick party games but no other real meat to it, and it may be 50 or 60 bucks extra. I love local multiplayer, but my cash may go to Bomberman instead of this first.

As far as I can tell, neither Splatoon or MK8 are available at launch (and Fast Remix from their chat with Gamexplain), is because Nintendo's online play infrastructure isn't ready yet (I'm guessing you can add Arms to that list as well). So the only 2 logical games to pack in are either Zelda or 12 Switch- one is aimed at casual fans, one at core gamers. Instead of forcing a game on an audience it doesn't appeal to, it makes sense to allow choice and a lower price.

Let's see how he justifies the subscription-based monthly rental thing next.

Wii Sports was the far superior game though! And was amazing fun. Wii Play was a bit of "meh".

I would have been happy if they just chucked in Wii sports HD and maybe left a few extra games to be bought as DLC.

@AlexSora89 it's not subscription for rentals. Its part of the bonus for paying to game online. You get a rental VC games that has had Online modes added.

Im with everyone - wish we could keep them. But if they are putting in money to make them online then okay fair enough - they need to recoup the costs. They aren't a non-profit organisation. And after a month will you still be playing that title?

What has reggie done for me lately. He needs to go

Bad move Nintendo, bad move.

@OzHuski
Well, sure! Xbox lets players keep the games they get each month, so why can't Nintendo? I see a load of matter-of-principle bovine fecal matter at work here, personally speaking.

For me, not pre-installing 1, 2, Switch in the starter bundle consoles is the biggest mistake from Nintendo...
I know countless people who bought the wii bundle just to play wii sport and they never played anything else... non gamers bought that as a whole package to play on.
And therefore, I think that the promise of having a game which can be played 2 players anywhere right from the box could have been a million seller argument...
Now, I'm less and less suprised by Nintendo's repeating errors...
I'm a big Nintendo fan, I pre-ordered the Switch, but I really feel bad about it (very expensive hardware, complicated uses/configs for non gamers, poor memory size, short battery life, not a lot of games on day 1, eShop games such as 1,2, Switch or Bomberman sold at full retail game prices, ... This smells real bad for Nintendo IMO... And I hope it will not die before the end of the year and the realease of Mario Odyssey as it looks fantastic)

i think 1 2 Switch really should have been a pack in. Reggie saying you need to compare this to Wii Play. Those games had much more depth than the games I played at the Switch Premiere at the weekend. Ball counting, safe opening, milking. Not my cup of tea at all.

Considering all the tech they are stuffing into this thing I am not bothered by this at all. Besides who is really mad that 1 2 Switch is not a pack in (because you know that would be the pack in game...not zelda not fifa or anything else)? If you aren't going to play it if it is paid why are you so adamant that it be free? Japan PAID for wii sports and that was with knowing the rest of the world didn't have to. Some of the comments make it sound like if only the game was free it would be the game that would be played the most, when many of the comments are either lukewarm or disdainful of 1 2 switch anyway. Also unlike Wii Sports or Nintendoland there doesn't seem to be a single player component. This is a home console/individual portable hybrid. Who would want a game that they can't play alone on their individual system?

I have my switch and Zelda SE on preorder and that alone will last me three months (six if this game is truly as big as they say). Also I'll be getting bomberman day one. But again the people that don't want Nintendo to actually make a profit so they can keep making games in general want the latest hot game to be thrown in.

@markie7235 EXACTLY

@ROBLOGNICK yeah

Usually I wait for price drop for new video games. While waiting, I can start by buy the game first, and then console when I have adequate budget. I must have Very High Patience level for waiting price drop and not playing my purchased Switch games yet until I got the machine. I did the same things also for my 3DS XL and Wii U.

@BrizzoUK provided Nintendo doesn't continue the dumb "digital copies cost as much as physical, but it's easier to get physical at a discount while digital never gets discounted" schtick they did with their current gen.

Pretty early on into Wii U's life, for $300, you could get a Deluxe (Premium if you live outside North America) Wii U bundled with Nintendo Land and another game depending on the bundle! You have gotta be kidding me! The Switch could've come with 1-2 Switch and ARMS or something like that! Seriously!

@ElGrego
I just wonder why Mr. Reggie keep doing that mistakes even he realized the consequences ? Setting price at $300 for first launching indicate Nintendo owe something so Mr. Reggie set $300 for paid a big loans inside Nintendo company. I heard Tatsumi Kimishima has experience for being businessman. I wonder if Mr. Kimishima can handle this chaotic situation.

Nevermind demonstrating uniqueness, as Wii Sports was a flash-in-the-pan in that respect. What people want is to buy a console with a decent game and play it without it costing them the best part of £400 to do so. Or in this instance, for a tenth of the price, buy the same decent game on their old console.

@Dakt
Exactly. "Hmm... which game should I buy? Zelda? Splatoon 2? Or 1-2 Switch?"

I just don't understand why we at the uk still have pre order opportunities. I thought this will be out of stock in a day. Nintendo must have more than 2 million or people are just holding up for something better

Well, in my opinion it really needed a piece of system-selling software bundled day one at no extra cost—let's say Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey for example—especially at $299. The Switch is basically costing over $350 for the vast majority of people when all is said and done—expensive.

One might feel sorry for Reggie. I´m sure NOA had no say whatsoever in the development of the Switch. Of course his arguments are not holding up. WiiPlay was abysmal and like the writer stated, it would´ve been no hassle at all to have 12Switch preinstalled.

I assume 12Switch is not interesting for Nintendo fanboys (such as me) OR the casual audience. It´s too damn expensive. The console is 330 EUROS over here plus 45 for 12Switch. No thanks.

My plans are to get BotW for WiiU and Mass Effect for XBONE. That should have me covered until the holiday season for Mario Odyssey and hopefully for a price drop, when the Switch performs badly.

I want them to succeed, but that presentation was just terrible.

I'm confused as to why people are complaining about the prIce. We are clearly looking at a piece of advanced hardware, so it shouldn't be a surprise that it's going to cost $299.99 at launch. Before the Switch's price tag was revealed people seemed to be anticipating $300, but now they're just complaining about it. Let's be real, guys.

Seems like a missed opportunity.....if the cost was $249.99 and he was saying the same thing I'd back him up, but at the $299 for what is essentially a handheld is more then the avg consumer will pay. An included game would have helped justify the cost, even if it meant minor losses at launch. Everyone would have bought a 2nd game to make up the difference anyway. They have more info then me though so hopefully they have this judged right. I love the concept and want Nintendo to do well.

Nintendo should atleast pack in 1, 2 switch into the switch as a soft version, offering like around 5 games (if what Reggie is saying, this is small amount) so players can have something to play and atleast experiment the game. As it stands now, i will never buy that game unless it's $10

From what we've seen so far, 1, 2, Switch looks heavily over priced, and I don't understand why there couldn't have been a cheaper bundle!

That forgettable tech demo should have been installed in every unit. No way I am gonna pay 50$ for it

It's a ballsy move if they are so confident of the console's success but for the minor cost of providing this as a pack-in game or an actual game card with it pre-installed then I just don't understand the logic.

If it came with a pack-in title then families would have all they need in one box to get up and running to experience the Switch and its unique features. By not providing such a title then you are essentially asking that family to choose their own experience and pay for it on top of the substantial outlay they already have. It's very shortsighted of Nintendo, what are their business analysts thinking?

By the time Christmas comes around then there will be bundles on offer and a possible price reduction to raise the possibility of takeup, so why not include this glorified tech demo now so that customers understand the uniqueness of the system and then they have an incentive to choose their own gaming experiences based on the features they now understand.

It's a decision like this that could be the difference between success and failure, especially at this price.

You have to appear to be fair to your customers and I just don't think Nintendo are in this case, and it could be something they regret.

I'm a loyal Nintendo fan and right now I'm not going to buying day one, it's going to be Christmas before I reconsider investing in a new platform. Now think about the everyday customer, what do you think they are going to do?

If they sell a single copy of 1 2 Switch it will be a miracle.

1 2 Switch really should be included with all Switch consoles as it looks god awful cheap, shocking Ninty is charging £40 for this.

I have Wii Play, not a great game, but it was a worthy purchase since it was bundled with a wiimote and yet cost like a standalone wiimote, so the game was literally free.

If that's the title I have to compare 1,2 Switch with then 1,2 Switch really must be a bad game not worthy of a purchase as a standalone thing... how to say... Reggie didn't really pick a good example this time around ^_^;;;

Imo I think the unsatisfactory of the Wii U may have been in mind at Nintendo. Not that Nintendo is struggling financially because the U failed to be a profit, but as a business and corporation Nintendo has to make up a loss spanning a four year deficit in their console market. I'm not concerned about Switch marketed as standard without a game. However, those controller prices are questionable, the Pro Controller in particular. I mean, lol, that Pro Controller better be a lifetime guarantee. It better be incredibly good lol! I have yet to hold one until launch day.

The Pro Switch Controller better not be cheap in material at all especially for a 69.99usd price tag. I think the PS4 Controller is too expensive considering how cheap it feels (it feels like a toy), and the analog sticks are cheaply made. Since the PS4 launched I replaced 4 PS4 Controllers so far, something about those left analog sticks that give out easily causing short in connection, making movements studder in the forward/up direction. And I always take care of my things, I don't throw or drop them. It's the most comfortable PS Controller but cheap. I've had no issues with the Xbox One Controller besides connection drops that occur often.

But back on topic. I think 1 2 Switch should be a pack in game to show off the new Joy Con functionality, for the sake there of and for free. But oh well.. Not much of a concern though.

I don't think there's an issue with no pack in game. Neither Microsoft or Sony offer a pack in, and the Switch is set to a lower price than both of those were at launch.

However, I do question the pricing on some items. 1-2-Switch is not a $50 game. And Puyo Puyo Tetris should not be $40. Some of the pricing just seems odd. I think $300 on the Switch is fine, but the accessory pricing is high, especially on the pro-controller. A new ps4 controller is $60, and I see no reason the Switch pro should be $70.

I'm still excited for the Switch overall, but I think with pricing on some items, expect many to be bought used or after price drops. That's bad for developers partially because it suggests a game was not popular, when in fact the price point was set too high

Also in regards to the games itself, I think the cartridges may cost a bit more than disks to manufacture if I'm not mistaken?.

With Nintendo's need for a surefire hit, I question their decision to bet on a hope that they will recreate a significant market for casual gaming that requires an outlay of at least $350 for a light party game experience. I wonder what, if any, market research they did that told them this was a wise decision.

@ningeek185 Nothing personal, but your point about the tech packed inside is invalid if there's insufficient compelling software to go with it.

I don't want to pay for the extra tech if its only ever going to be utilized in a weak title like 1, 2 Switch.

Show me that it's must-have tech and I'll reconsider, but so far there's no sign of that, it's just another unsupported Nintendo gimmick.

The Wii U's gamepad was far more valuable to me with its off-screen play than the HD Rumble is with its 'count the balls in the tube'.

@ningeek185 A piece of advanced hardware you won´t be able to use unless you spend extra 60 quid on a game. It´s not about the price; it´s about a really bad decision.

@Damo Being able to include the game digitally, does not reduce its price. The price is for the game (The work involved in the development) Not by the physical medium where it is distributed. So even if they pre installed the game on every Switch, that would have raised the price anyway.

Stop being Scrooge McDuck, Nintendo. The paid online service is enough.

***And cue up all those Indie's that bailed on Wii U to now return since Wii U has a userbase installed that needs and wants their games but seriously are now considering NOT jumping on-board with Switch at least until a major price adjustment***

On top of that, it is not helping that Nintendo is coming across very arrogant and even rude in the way they are dealing with this.

I expect a long and deserved backlash that was escalated so recently with the NES Classic blunder ....and now, this.

Yeah, just thought I'd point out to people that not only is the technology inside the joycon far more advanced than anything you get in the PS4 controller... but you get two of them inside the box. That's $40 worth of stuff you don't get with the PS4.

I think there will be features built into with the Switch & obviously demos available, though they should have MADE a pack-in game if 1 2 Switch took too much work.

@gcunit Before the corresponding console launch and game released for it, the original D-pad, portable gaming, analogue stick, rumble pak, motion control and second screen could all be considered "Another Nintendo gimmick".

@Damo I might be missing something on your point, but are you saying a digital version of a game would have no value?

They could have put a team together of 5-10 developers and made a Super Mario World style game which would bundle in on the console. I feel there should be something for this system out of the box. Much more appealing.

Reggie's arguments never hold up. He's just a spin and bullbluffer. 1, 2 Switch should have been preloaded in the bundle.

@Frosty_09 Funny comic, but I edited my comment to not make gcunit angry.

@OneBagTravel That is true

You could have just put 1 2 Switch as a download with the console, then you save money on making the cards and boxes. You won't make money on the game alone but honestly, you're hardly going to make money on it anyway.

The good thing is when all the physical copies of BOTW are sold out, you have digital as back up, not resorting to picking 1 2 Switch instead.

WiiPlay was $50 WITH a wiimote though. That was a pretty good deal. This game looks like it has more content than WiiPlay...but how much do I really want to spend on a tech demo. I'm guessing this started as a pack-in, but when they got pricing and everything together they realized they would need to make it a standalone title and then maybe added more content to justify it.

@DarthNocturnal You also need to remember the Wii U in Canada was indeed priced at 350, but that's when our dollar was close to par. Now our dollar is something like 74 cents american, we have our crappy dollar to thank for the Switch being 400 this time.
Using the american dollar, the switch is actually cheaper than the Wii U. We just got screwed....
Thanks to our dollar the PS4 slim with uncharted is 350 while the Switch with no game will be 400. So I worry how well this will do in Canada. That's certainly not an impulse buy price...

Fine by me. I couldn't care less about 1-2-Switch.

In the US the Wii U launched at $299 no game and $349 w/ Nintendo Land. After a few mere months there were no $299 Basic systems to be found b/c Nintendo figured out people would rather pay $349 with a game than $299 without a game.

So they launch Switch at $299 without a game, just like the version of Wii U WHICH DID NOT SELL.

Explain the current thinking in that context Reggie. Why choose the price and configuration of the previous system that did not sell and was abandoned.

Also, I think 3DS launched at $249 without a game. It didn't sell until the price dropped 33% months later.

In Nintendo's defense, everything Reggie says is sort of nonsense. Here's probably the truth of what they are thinking - sell Switch at $299 b/c the only people who are going to buy a new $300 console in early March are the people who want Zelda. Only the casuals want a game like 1 2 Switch but they won't buy a $300 console in March, only during the holidays. So launch at $299 in March alongside Zelda, sell 2 million, then bundle a game for the holidays and not have to drop the price, v/c $299 with Zelda or Mario or Slaton 2 or MK8D or SSB complete will look like a good deal, they won't even gave to lower the price for BF, just bundle a game.

It makes sense, Reggie just did a bad job of explaining it.

Scenario: Mom and Dad take brother and sister to the store to buy a game system. Switch is $299.99 without a game, so they grab one of those for $59.99 and brother and sister want to play two player games so they get $79.99 Joy Cons... And tax...$480 bucks or so.

Or they could get an Xbox or PS4 with a pack in game for like $249.99 or less and an extra controller for $55.00. Hmm, I wonder which one mom and dad are going to go for.

Still a big price for not very much in return. That 1-2-Switch has to be one of the most unappealing games I've seen in a long, long time. They might sell one or two copies because people want more games for their Switch and the long wait for decent games once they complete Zelda will be a painful memory for this system.

Look at the N64, Gamecube and 3DS, all got slashed within half a year, I'd imagine the Switch to do the same, which is the same time when decent games start coming out for the Switch, strange coincidence. Buying now will disappoint most, so expect that if you're an early adopter, just hope Nintendo will reward them as they did with the 3DS ambassadors.

The only thing I don't understand is: How in the world did 1,2 Switch become a game which needed so much work done on it to give it it's full price?

Guys, remember this is the same company charging $10 for Pokemon Yellow on the 3DS

It's a awful price. Here in Europe its even more expensive, where some retailers ask 329 Euro!! That's what you get when you don't give a suggested price in europe!

I'll buy it at some point, but I really don't want to pay more then 250 Euro (I rather pay less then that).

The system will bomb gigantically. Yes it seems to be sold out at certain retailers, but that probably is because very short supplies and scalpers, those lovely scalpers!

It would make Nintendo very happy because then they can finally focus alone on rubbish mobile-games and Amiibo.

300 would be acceptable (slightly), when it would be very powerful (ps4/xboxone power or more) and had a very strong line-up. But it has a very weak line-up and the power is around Wii u level. Its just a reskinned Wii u, and they just keep happily fumbling in the dark. Well done, Nintendo!

I will never buy that 12 switch game as I am less into gimmicky titles. I think nintendo is heading the wrong way with their pricing policy in general. It might put off too many people. You can get a ps4 for 300 dollars, probably with a game and lots of gb harddisk. Here you have to invest more and more with time. The lack of the joy con charging grip is another matter plus having to buy sd cards if you want digital content. Many parents will think twice.

@electrolite77 How is the pricing of the NS (or its accessories) price gouging?

@Damo I think you're right. It seems that Nintendo is taking a "Nothing Free" approach with the Switch. Which I'm not sure is a good idea.

The ridiculous price of 1 2 Switch is compounded by the fact that these were probably the internal tech demos that they used to develop the HD rumble stuff in the first place. That game at near full retail, AAA price deserves to crash and burn so hard.

@electrolite77 I can't find it anywhere online. The selfish part of myself wish what the friend of your friend is saying was true.

They never learn!! I've been saying right along that $299 (i don't care pack in or not) is not gonna fly off the shelves like they may think!! Not with the other 2 at same or cheaper and mountains and mountains of games to play!! This once again is Nintendos stubborn attitude with what they feel is correct shining through. And the 5 game launch line up is friggin pathetic!! I don't even like Zelda so I have zip to play IF I grab a switch day 1. No fresh vc games....nothing!! Smh!!

The comparison of the $300 wii u without game and $350 wii u with game fall short. The reason the $350 bundle sold out had nothing to do with packaged games, it had to do with 32 GB memory versus 8 GB memory. That's why the $350 bundle sold better than the $300 8 GB version

GOOD.
Because the pack-in would've been 1-2 switch and I DO NOT WANT that. lol

@joey302
Just like Wii U, I fear this is exactly what we'll all point back to and say "Nintendo should've known".
With Wii U it was the confusing nomenclature (is it an accessory for Wii?) Brand confusion killed them.

Now it's the feature confusion and most of all the pitiful game line-up. I love Nintendo, but whose head will turn at just dance or bomberman? The only killer app (Zelda) is also on another system. Ouch.

@electrolite77,

Okay. I of course won't do it, I'll wait.

I don't know about 1-2 switch... If it's not bundled, I don't see why anyone will pick it up. I'm an avid Nintendo fanboy, and yet, I won't spend a dollar on something that looks like an under-Game and Wario, which was already pretty empty, but at least had character.
I'm not worried about the line up though, as I'm sure the eShop will pull through, and more games will be announced. I just hope that Nintendo better advertises its Nindies this time.

@markie7235 right you are cause you can't do jack with 8G this day and age. Really surprised the Switch has 32G limit as well! Not much better.

@Frosty_09 True that, I got an early 3DS to get those ambassador games and really enjoyed them alot, just a shame they didn't release them on the eshop for everyone else to enjoy.

@markie7235
"To clarify my first post, if Nintendo priced it at $350 to include this and I found out I paid $50 more because of this game, I'd be a little pissed."

On the other hand if they had packed in Breath of the Wild at that price you'd atleast save $10 which isn't much, but it would show some semblance of a deal other than what we have now.

Nintendo isn't giving me any incentive to be an early adopter.

Damn Ninty!

That's likely to be £299...which leaves no room to buy a game. Unless I can play my downloaded 3DS games on the Switch I will probably pass.

@Frosty_09 I wholeheartedly agree with you.

@yorumi while some more tech savvy people might have bought the 32 GB for the black console, many consumers did it for the increased memory size. $50 more for an extra 24 GB of data and a game is not bad. I actually never bought an external HD for my wii u and I have around 65 wii u games, all physical of course.

@TitanX it would be nice for a zelda bundle but honestly it wouldn't save me money. Not sure about in the UK but in the US you can be a reward member with bestbuy.com or as an amazon prime member and get 20% discount on new games. I've never paid full price for a retail release game in the last 3 years. Aside from the fact that I'm a collector, I don't understand why digital still costs the same as MSRP as retail. I pay $48 for a retail release with discount or $60 for retail....hmm, tough decision

@JamesR Completely agree with you. 1 2 Switch could easliy be a viral hardware seller if bundled in with the console.

Also Reggie saying the software is more comparable to Wii Play than Wii Sports then it definitely should have been bundled as Wii Play was like a glorified demo...

Even a digital game to be bundled with the system would be nice q_q

no one is going to buy 1 2 switch it needs to be bundled with the console, and then the launch price does not look so bad. As it stands I think the best option is to wait and see what changes they make for the holiday season, or maybe next year for the NEW switch lol.

@Yorumi You do realise that both Sony and MS charge for online, right? So seems like they're paying attention to the competition within their market in that respect at least. Though it certainly does seem over priced in my eyes...

I'm glad Nintendo didn't push the price of the console up to include a bunch of things I don't want to buy.

@ga3tr0n It's already been confirmed that £279 is the going rate in the UK.

@Syrek24 People think a game that costs millions to rate should be free.
Imagine if he Wii U didn't come bundled with Nintendoland and was instead $50 cheaper?
And they think millions spent on innovation in design instead of delivering another expensive and underpowered PC should also be free.
If people don't want Nintendo stuff, don't buy Nintendo. Save up for a top gaming PC - I sure wish I could but my laptop has enough for the PC games I play such as Civ 6.

I never owned an N64 or Gamecube, but is this the first Nintendo console that doesn't include a game?

@Yorumi With online console gaming, you get what you pay for. The Wii had decent online, but the company that provided it went under, forcing all Wii online stuff to die.
Nintendo did Wii U online themselves for free and it sucked. Playing MK Wii online with 10s of millions of others was a breeze with old slow Internet. Playing MK 8 with a much smaller amount with much faster Internet was a massive struggle.
Now they are paying another company a lot of money to do online gaming right, and we will get what we pay for.
I mean not wasting system resources for chat is a great idea. And I don't have to buy ridiculously expensive chat head set for it either, I can happily use the ones that come free with my phone.

@Tempestryke I don't know but I think the Wii was the first to be bundled with a game on launch.
And all bundled consoles are more expensive. Just try buying a PS4 or Xbox One with and without a bundled game.

@MadAdam81

NES-came with SMB1/Duck Hunt
SNES-came with SMW
Wii-came with NSMB
WiiU-came with one of several possible titles. Ours came with Mario Kart 8.

Well by that logic, it should ship with a pre-installed game in Europe, because here it costs 329€.

@speedracer216 I don't know I mean I really didn't OVER EXPECT anything here...but they are just unbelievable!! I'm a hardcore 50 year old gamer and has zero interest in just dance and skylanders. Hell my 13 year old son has zero interest in those either. All he plays is NBA 2K 17! I don't think Nintendo honestly knows what the hell they're doing really. I expected a full range of eshop/vc games ready to go, a 10-15 RETAIL game lineup, and maybe a dozen or so quality indie titles to choose from. So now the next big release is MARIO Kart 8 April 28 which we've played to death, splatoon 2 not till summer and MARIO Odyssey "holiday 2017"??? These games should of all been ready for launch with a stack of quality titles spread throughout the rest of 2017. This has shades of Wii U Alllll over again!! It really is incredible!! The nay Sayers who claim that Nintendo will NEVER become a 3rd party company better take a long hard look at this Switch launch debacle!! Jesus at least Sega broke their butts and tried hard to stay in the game with dreamcast!! And Reggie should just be fired!! How the hell that idiot makes $21 million a year is beyond me!! Guy is in constant state of denial and it just pisses me off and everyone knows it!! I could go on and on here lol!!

The fact that it comes with no games means it's not really a $300 console, but rather a $360 console, since no one's going to buy a Switch and have nothing to play on it.

I showed the Switch pre-order page to a friend, his first response was - "there's no game with it?", and proceeded not to order it. One less Switch sale right there.

For a multi-billionaire dollar company, Nintendo are not very smart business people.

Why not preload it with something else? 3DS came with the AR games, Face Raiders and Streetpass. Tech demos perhaps but they were fun. Streetpass was awesome.

Switch could easily have included some of those great goofy Nintendo apps. What about an Ice-Climbers co-op game? Or a 2-player Donkey Kong where one player throws the barrels?

@chardir Agreed. Wii Play was $60 for game/controller and 1-2 Switch is $50 w/ no controller. 1-2 Switch does not look like it's worth $50. $30 at the very max.

I don't buy gimmick games. No 1-2 Switch or Arms for me. Give me good old fashioned buttons and a fun high quality graphic game with new ideas packed into that. You don't include a dumb game, fine by me. I'll get Zelda, Bomberman, Mario Kart, and Mario Odyssey. And maybe a few other 3rd party titles if other friends have them.

Do they really belive people will pay 50$ for it? It's the kind of game that shows the console's capabilities . It's nothing huge, Wii Play wasn't huge. Should have just pre-instaled the game, it would atract the casual like Wii Sport did, at barely no cost for them.

At this point, I'm not even considering pre-ordering. Besides the obvious hassle it looks like it will be to find a retailer with available stock, 300$ with no game just isn't going to cut it for me, Ninty.
I can only dream of a sort of Smash/Splat redux with Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey for Christmas. If you do that, Nintendo, I would gladly pay you 350$.
Until then, I'm happy with my Wii U

@ningeek185 I assume your comment is meant as sarcasm, as nothing about the Switch is advanced.

@Mogster But it is, it's more advanced than the Wii U and 3DS.

And if Nintendo packed-in 1 2 Switch for an extra $319.99, people would still complain.

I'm not saying 1 2 Switch should be $49.99, but at least give it a chance to show everything off.

Nintendo needs to show some Goodwill to the consumer. $300.00 with 1-2-SWITCH would have done that. They still have time to give early users a free download code.

@Honelith but is it more advanced than a PS4? No, but it's much more expensive.

I will pay 30 max for it when it goes down in price. I paid $40 for Mario 3D Land around the 3DS's first year, got hours upon hours of Mario Galaxy-esque fun, so to make 1-2 Switch a full-priced game doesn't make too much sense to me.

Not including a pack-in game to keep cost down is a made up problem. It will cost Nintendo more in PR to not include 1-2-Switch. Stupid. They have scared away a lot of people due to pricing.

Is 1,2, Switch actually substantial? Because it doesn't look like it is... It just looks like a bunch of incredibly short minigames. Would have been cool included on the console but for £40, no way.
GAME has Bomberman for £60 and I don't think I can justify that even though I want it a lot.

The fatal mistake is not the price, it's is the noticeable absence of launch games. For example I can play Zelda on the Wii u, and if I don't want to play Zelda there is no point in rushing out to buy a Switch.

I will get one next Christmas to play the new Mario game. Maybe.

Nintendo's pricing is not meant to be competitive with PS4 and Xbox One because they do not see those machines as being their prime competitors. Rather they are pricing it to be comparable to the IPad. They can talk all the want about Switch being a "home console" but everything from the form factor to the internal storage to the price is designed with the tablet consumer in mind.

No one will pay £50 for cack

@SeriousSam Sadly still about £30 too much without a game. I would be happier paying £299 if it came with MarioKart.

@JohnnyC my choices: the switch with zelda 394,98 € or 418,72 USD if you convert it or keep the preorder that I have since 2014 on amazon.fr 59,99€ or 63,59 USD.

WIIU version for me

seeing as how Reggie says details will be discussed at a later time for digital transfers..

what good is Switch gonna do for me with no game?

honestly it better have an Internet browser like a usual tablet to even be worth the purchase till I decide what game.

1,2 switch is 50$$?? definitely skip that title altogrther.

all the accessories are priced too high imo.

idk..I guess switch will not be in my home day 1.

So if Wii Sports was smaller, why not bundle a smaller game with the switch? Doesn't have to be huge or innovative Nintendo. Just something to play when you need a break from Zelda.

@Mega_Yarn_Poochy in france the switch alone is 329,99€ or 350USD you can have a ps4 slim or xbox one s for 299€ with a game

1 2 Switch packed in could have shown off the system.

Now Nintendo gets to watch it be the $15 Black Friday game for this holiday.

But hey, let's trust Reggie and friends. They did a great job judging the market when it came to WiiU after all.

I could even use a SNES game with multiplayer in exchange for the 1 2 Switch.

@Tempestryke No it is not. Plus half the pack-in games vary by region. Japan had to buy wii sports for instance.

I will never understand why "fans" are ready to draw and quarter Nintendo but if another company does the same thing no one bats an eye. If folks are that desperate for a bundle, wait a year. That is usually when they come out. I will have beaten Zelda by then so I will get my money's worth for early adopting.

@Yorumi Nah, remember the 3DS version of NIntenDogs and Cats? That bombed so hard, inside a year you could pick them up for like $8.

If it sells decently, a game tends to stay near full price with Nintendo. But a bomb is a bomb, they can't save it. Metroid Other M you could pick up for $5 for awhile.... I still never got around to it. Probably should have at that point. Also available for $10 all the time is Project STEAM.

@Syrek24 There is just so much wrong with your comment, I don't even know where to start. You should start giving crash courses in defending bad company decisions and policies, since that's all you seem to be good for. Your ignorance has nothing to with "having a positive outlook on things".

Lol Reggie, See you in a year when that switch bundle comes out despite you know saying that it had to be $300 without a game, just like how North America was not going to get that Standard Model New 3DS.

The console needs a pack in game, it's stupid to not pack one in as proven with how the Wii sold. I also don't see how cost figures into it, what does one of those game carts cost to produce, a few £'s or $'s at most after that the R&D is absorbed by Nintendo.

Also on the subject of 1,2 switch, wouldn't it have made more sense to pack that with a couple of joycons like wii play.

Your putting aside the fact is wrong. It will cost them the sales that the game would have made if it wasn't packed in or installed with. That revenue is obviously calculated .

Actually Reggie I think $470 does warrant a software pack in. I also hope that I don't have to pay extra for something to charge the joycons. This thing is going to be expensive as hell.
They're bloody lucky Breath of the Wild is releasing on launch because that's the only reason I've pre-ordered one.

Do you like looking people in the eye?
Then you're gonna love the Switch!
...
...
Oh no. THIS is the "new way to play" they have been touting as the secret gem for months.Oh... oh dear me, no. They... they think this is a killer app...

Actually this is easy! I would not want this rubbish game bundled and I don't want to buy it either.
Just reduce the price of the console and it will sell.

The majority of comments here being of the "at the current price point, this thing really needs a pack-in title" nature says everything about Nintendo's decisions regarding the Switch. Despite what certain commenters think about the quality or value of the tech put into the system, public perception is king when it comes to business. The vast majority of potential customers will look at the Switch and it's lack of pack-in software and immediately be turned-off. The current pricing structure is obviously leaving a bad taste in most people's mouths. It does not bode well for the future of the system.

I think the lack of a pack-in software is going to disappoint a lot of people, especially the general public. It's so frustrating to buy a new "toy" for a premium price and then discover you have to fork out €50 more to see it in action (although I woldn't call 1-2-Switch "action").
Nintendo may have all the reasons in the world to charge what they charge for the system, but this doesn't change the fact that normally in the west consoles come with a pack-in game, full stop. They could have saved some money by not including the HDMI cable and the USB cable, which most people already have at home for sure, but not including the game is simply moronic. Any game would have worked, even a collection of demos.

On a positive note, at least not too many people will expecience the joy of pretending you're milking a cow.

And they couldn't include a virtually-free digital title? I originally envisioned Splatoon 2 as the bundled (digital) title, but 1-2-Switch would be perfect for this, considering the free advertising generated from its active, social gameplay and due to the fact that it probably won't sell well because of its highly generic name, especially up against Breath of the Wild, Skyrim, and Super Bomberman R. Reggie is using the same logic that the Nintendo heads were using before Wii was released, to justify not packing in Wii Sports.

Besides, I still think $299 is $100 too much if they really want to get this into everyone's hands amidst the stiff competition from mobile, PC, and PS4.

Here in sweden it's about 400$ for the Switch
I think I'll hold off and see how things are later in the year

They don't have a Wii Sports this time. Stripping it down to the essentials to keep the cost where it is needed with a small margin is essential for Nintendo right now. I don't see how this could cause such large reactions or controversy. This is also why accessories have larger margins. Again, I'd rather have that than the base system priced higher.

1, 2, Switch does seem overpriced, there will need to be much more shown to convince me otherwise, but it is the kind of game to get anyone to try out at a gathering for a few minutes of silly fun.

For people comparing to PS4 and XB1 prices, those are 4 (Edit: 3) years old and don't have screens in them or a bunch of other features this does for that matter. It's not such a simple comparison. Doesn't mean you'd prefer it, just that it's not so cut and dry.

For instance, PS4 isn't appealing to me because the library is abysmal concerning games appropriate for my kids and I'm not going to spend a large amount of leisure time hiding from my family.

It may have "needed to be 299.99 in NA" but it should have been 249.99 since your 2 biggest competitors will both have their consoles available at that price and even 199.99 during the fall holiday drive. I already have bought an XB1 and a PS4 in the last 2 months and one cost me 229.00 the other was 249.99 and both will now have more expensive versions available as well that will help shrink the price of the normal versions of those consoles. Parents walking into a store, seeing the massive catalog of games available for the 2 name brand yet cheapers consoles are going to have a hard time picking up the Switch over those 2 cheaper systems. Hopefully Nintendo will realize this and do some sort of bundle deal at 299.

@Yorumi Yeah, they're actually only about 3 years old, too, right? Whoops. But they are old news and already purchased by early adopter people. Given the new choices to spend money on a game console the differences are even more apparent. PS4 Pro and Scorpio are a much, much slimmer change than buying a Switch from a feature perspective. You get the same, but shinier or you get Nintendo Games anywhere. Certainly varies by person.

The age of the systems is a small part of my point.

Now if you haven't jumped onto PS4 or XB1, the choice is a much different one. Especially since the library of the Switch will be limited for some time and the PS4 and XB1 are starting to hit a sweet spot.

Anyhow, a home console with a screen that you can take anywhere to play with multiple people with virtually no set up or additional purchases is a pretty different device and was never going to be too low. 3DS XL is $200.

It's too bad all those rumors swirled about $250 price a couple days before the announcement. And it's too bad Nintendo is in a tricky financially bloodied state and won't take a loss on each console. I think they could fly off shelves at $200 - $230 as an impulse buy. The "other" console for many.

I do hope they have some nice welcome mats rolled out for those who invested in a Wii U. Mario Kart Deluxe discount and no-hassle VC transfer would be a good start. Doesn't have to be free, and I fully expect (excellent) DLC for MKD, but I do hope something is in the works...

Well I watched the treehouse review of 1 2 switch and it looked like I would tire of it after 30 mins. canceling my preorder of 1 2 switch. It feels like a gimmick where Wii Sports was a long term blast.

My opinion: it's a LOT of technology going on in that box. The Switch itself and those controllers to the mysterious doc components. I'm just getting it for Zelda right now anyway.

Smh,the hell!

This is a pack in game if ever I've seen one.

@Honelith If they were to do another "Ambassador program", let's hope they give those early adopters something physically exclusive or some sort of monetary compensation, rather than games from a system that isn't available on 3DS VC (ie, GBA on 3DS), ensuring that we'll never see games from that system for sale on the eShop (as they wouldn't be spiting their Ambassadors' exclusive gifts).

Sadly we'll have to make up the difference in price by buying unreliable micro sd cards, overpriced accessories and, of course, games to make the whole thing worth buying at all. Maybe it's a good thing only Zelda and Bomberman are there at launch.

@RadioHedgeFund Great idea. I wish it came with something Tennis or anything at all. I'm not a big Zelda fan, so even a ARMS DEMO or Snipperclips (great to play with my son and daughter) could have been better and could have make me buy the full game (of ARMS) along with a new set of joycons.

I'm starting to think that Nintendo is banking on selling the 2MM units solely to Zelda fans.

nintendo... 240$ is the real price of switch, and 290$ is bundled with a game... Your console is A LOT inferior to ps4 and xbone and yet u charge more than those 2 consoles lol gl nintendo u are failing 2 consoles in a row !!

I think the real full-on launch is near the end of the year. Right now they're just targeting early adopters.

Reggie,

Two things.

1) One of the main reasons why Wii was such a success is because you through in Wii Sports. NintendoLand came in a bigger bundle for the WiiU. You should have at least had a Zelda or 1-2 bundle, because why not.

2) If you are going to compare 1-2 Switch to Wii Play vs Wii Sports, then maybe you should throw in 1-2 Switch in with Joy Con controllers, being that they are $90.

I get WHY they think that they need to charge separately for these things, but they shouldn't at this stage. I am going to pay stupid prices for consoles at launch, because I always do; I am not the typical gamer though. They need to do extra to entice J6P to buy the Switch, not nickel and dime customers. Mainstream customers see that.

@Tempestryke But did they have games bundled on launch? I'm not actually sure myself.

@dreamcastrocks Wii Sports did push up the price of the Wii. It would have been cheaper without a game.

Yeah, that's why the price of the Wii was 249,99 WITH a game, Mr. Fils-Aime. Because it's impossible to keep it under 300 dollars if it comes with a game. Right.

Personally I'm very glad they made this approach. There is nothing worse than being forced to pay for a game you have no intention of playing. Nintendoland may have been good but I played it for ten minutes.

There should always, always be a standard SKU but perhaps there should also be bundles to go alongside. Perhaps a 1-2 Switch bundle and a Zelda bundle at a slightly reduced price than buying console & game separately. Seems logical to me.

@Yorumi like I pointed out elsewhere, "weaker/stronger" perspective depends on the aspect. In terms of CPU horsepower and whatnot, PS4 and XBone are expected to be higher (based on estimated performance/battery balance factors and Nintendo's trend of several last generations, not on "leaks"); the same initially applies to basic and potential storage capacity. In terms of experience portability, loading times, physical media convenience, relative noise Switch is expected to be superior to both consoles (especially XBone whose portability remains nonexistent - PS4 can at least rely on Gaikai and multiplatform cross-save features to an extent). And performance superiority is also something for games to take advantage of before it proves a topical factor - among modern releases, we can suppose FIFA and NBA might boast crisper and fancier audiovisual quality on PS4 but will titles like Rime or Disgaea 5 so much as look different? After all, Switch is not expected to be a WiicUbe in terms of performance capacity either - developers already manage to test and run stuff like Dark Souls 3 there.

@Ryu_Niiyama

Ah okay. Thanks for clarifying.

@MadAdam81

Yes they came with the systems.

@Tempestryke (Thumbs up) np. I'd meant to put a list by region but work got a little crazy and by the time I got home I'd forgotten about it. I may loop back and do that later.

@RadioHedgeFund As you said this game to me is more like the AR Game, its not even close to Wii sports or Wii Play as Reggie is trying to make an analogy with... this should definetly be built in.. not even counts for me as a standalone packed in game...

@MadAdam81

Yes, of course that is true, but people will have a hard time buying a new Nintendo console that doesn't come with any games and isn't backwards compatible.

Again, they need to do something more to court consumers after their initial 2M allotment sells out. Zelda alone will sell that 2M; Mario Kart can probably sell another 1M. but what about 3-10? Splatoon won't do it, even though it is an amazing game. They don't have another true system seller until Mario. If the Switch has 6 months of stagnant sales, it will really hurt their brand.

This is complete bullcrap and Reggie has become nothing more than a greasy pimp of a snake oil salesman. I have zero respect for him at this point. It would have cost them nothing to install the game and looking back at the price point of the Wii U, they still managed to include a copy of Nintendoland... and we know THAT hardware wasn't cheap. So he can kiss my shiny metal ass. And cut the crap. I'd say this corporate shill thing he now has going on is beneath him, but it's been happening for a while now, so... I'm done with listening to anything he says anymore. Zero credibility.

And holy crap... 1 2 Switch has more content and variety? Just more proof he's spinning as hard as he can and looks more pathetic and useless than ever. Stay in your corporate office Reggie... I really don't want to hear you speak any more.

This is utter crap.

They would have earned a lot more in the long run by driving the sales of the console (and, consequently, other games) by packing it in rather than selling it at a ridiculous $50 price.

Plus, considering you have no pack-in game, the console basically costs $350 anyways since you have to buy something to play.

I still think Nintendo should make this a free download for the month of march as an early adopter bonus.

I already know I'm spending more than $500 at launch. The system $300+$60 (zelda)+$50 (super bomber man)+$50 (128 GB)+ $70 (controller).This game should of come with the system as a demo nothing more. I mean who would seriously want to Milk cow tit$. That eating contest just promotes obesity. The ping pong looked fun, but it should not justify that price. I love Nintendo and all, but if this game were a burrito it would be called El Crapo.

Best decision don't want the game one bit. If it saved me even a few bucks in reality it was worth it to spend towards a good game.

First of all, everyone STOP BLAMING REGGIE! You ever heard the phrase, "Don't shoot the messenger!"? Reggie had likely no role in this decision. This came from Nintendo Headquarters in Japan. Reggie is in Washington. That being said...

Oh lord. I really hope this ends up being like the 3DS and making a big comeback, because they threw out any chance of it being the instant success of the Wii with that price point and lack of bundled games. Where do I even begin with the mistakes??

1. Weak launch lineup, biggest title is coming out on Wii U as well. Next game we get is 2 months later, and is an expansion pack for the game we all have.
2. $300 is fine, but without a game you're effectively making it a $350 console anyways.
3. 1, 2, Switch! could have been the Wii Sports of the Switch- a title that's easy to get into, you can play it out of the box, it's great with friends, and it shows off the capabilities of the console. Hardcore gamers would enjoy it for a little bit at least, and it's good for the casual audience. By making it separate, fewer people buy the game, fewer people play it, fewer people tell their friends how fun it is, and the magic success of the Wii is gone. There is a sweetspot with this stuff, and they hit it with the Wii. They missed a potential gold mine.
4. Too much damn tech. The Joy Cons could have been like a wiimote- simple and cheap. Instead they made it a veritable "Switch" Army Knife of controllers. IR sensor is pointless, HD rumble is a nice feature, but unnecessary. The reason the pro controller is so expensive is because it includes HD rumble, motion control, and probably even another NFC reader/writer. I know why they're expensive, but it's because they overstuff the things.
5. Lack of details about paid online
Perception is reality, and our perception of their online is that it will be $60 a year with poopy benefits. Seems like a ripoff. Nintendo should have clarified the price of the service at the thing to ease concerns. Maybe it will be a reasonable $10 or $20. But if we don't know, all we can do is assume the worst.

I really, REALLY, want this system to succeed. I really, REALLY wanted the Wii U to be an example of how not to listen to your fans, overstuff a console with unnecessary tech, and overall do a bad job at marketing. Instead they're repeating themselves with the Switch and it isn't looking pretty. When will Nintendo learn... that their actions... HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!!?!??!?!