The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will cost $69.99 in the US.
Nintendo has officially announced that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be its first product priced at an increased price of $69.99 in the US and $101 in Australia, after merchants allegedly disclosed a price hike. The collector’s version, priced higher at $129.99 in the US and $187.54 in Australia, will come with a steel case, a poster, badges, and an art book.
Many people will notice that this is the first time Nintendo has charged more than its standard price of $59.99 in the US since the Nintendo Switch arrived in 2017. Although no specific reason for the price increase has been given, it is safe to assume that inflation is the cause.
Due to changes in the global economy, Nintendo has recently reported a reduction in operating profit for Q1–Q3 FY23. Despite steady software sales with blockbusters like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet selling 20.61 million copies during the period, hardware sales experienced a significant decline, contributing to this loss.
Related: Nintendo at E3 2021: ‘Legend of Zelda’ sequel in 2022, ‘Metroid Dread,’
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to release on May 12, 2023 and is expected to reach high sales figures. However, the increased price point of $69.99 in the US and AU $79 in Australia may affect its wider appeal.
Interestingly, the newly upgraded Pikmin 4 is also available on the Nintendo eShop for its standard price of $59.99. This suggests that Nintendo may have priced Tears of the Kingdom higher with the assumption that players will purchase it regardless of the cost.
While the need for games to generate a larger profit due to global economic conditions is understandable, this decision is peculiar, especially considering preorders have already been made at regular pricing in various regions.
The impact of this choice on local retailers is yet to be seen. In Australia, Amazon is offering the lowest price at AU $74.99 while EB Games has preorders available at AU $89.95. Although there has been a slight increase in preorder prices, the full impact of the US $10 increase has yet to be seen.
It remains unclear whether Nintendo will maintain its higher pricing strategy for future game releases, especially in light of the success of Pikmin 4. However, with ongoing economic volatility, changes to pricing may become the norm.
Related: The new teaser for Pokémon Legends: Arceus reveals major improvements to fights.
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