Nintendo will charge $70 for Switch games on "case-by-case basis"

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Tears of the Kingdom's $70 price won't be the standard

Tears of the Kingdom screenshot
(Image credit: Nintendo)

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's $70 price tag won't be the standard for Nintendo games going forward.

Yesterday on February 8, pre-orders for Tears of the Kingdom went live, immediately following a new Nintendo Direct with a trailer showing off the new game. Shortly after, Nintendo confirmed to Game Informer that the $70 price for Tears of the Kingdom wouldn't be reflected on all Nintendo games in the future.

Nintendo stressed to Game Informer that prices for titles are determined on a "case-by-case basis." The publisher confirmed this to the outlet twice, in fact, adding a simple "no" when asked if the $70 price would be the trend for Nintendo-developed games going forward.

This will no doubt be a relief to Nintendo consumers around the world. PlayStation took the first step to the $70 price tag for first-party games back in 2020 with the likes of Demon's Souls, and Xbox announced late last year that its first-party games in 2023 would be charged at $70, including Starfield. 

While this appears to be the norm for exclusive PlayStation and Xbox games, it won't be the standard for Nintendo games. That's if the company's new statement holds up, however - there's nothing to say Nintendo couldn't merely determine the vast majority of their games to be worth $70, and hike up the price accordingly. 

For now though, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be Nintendo's first foray into the $70 price tag. Considering Breath of the Wild is one of the best-selling Nintendo Switch games of all time, and the sequel has a fever-pitch level of anticipation, there's a lot to indicate fans might not necessarily be put off by the price tag.

Check out our full Nintendo Direct February 2023 recap if you missed yesterday's blockbuster showcase. 

Hirun Cryer
Hirun Cryer
Freelance Writer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.