Nintendo Switch Gets $300 Price Tag, Controllers Cost Extra $80

The much anticipated gaming controller can be used in three modes, in tandem with its Joy Con controllers.

Nintendo’s Switch with Joy Con controllers. (Photo Courtesy: Nintendo)

Nintendo’s big bet, Switch, a handheld gaming console, will be available from March. Most of us expected the Switch to be priced around the $250 mark, but with its $300 pricing, the Japanese gaming major has jumped the rumour queue.

In addition, to get your hands on the extra controllers, called Joy Con, you’ll be spending an extra $80. This takes the overall pricing of Switch closer to the $400 figure, and that isn’t what most of us had signed up for when the product was revealed earlier this year.

Industry watchers have already voiced their concerns and talked about the difficulties for developers.

It is a console with a complicated controller setup. That means game makers will have to create titles to fit with it, and that is a problem.

Kenji Ono, Independent Gaming Journalist

What Switch Is All About

Nintendo Switch will be launched in March 2017. (Photo Courtesy: YouTube/Nintendo)

Switch features a dock to connect the system to a TV. Users can lift the device from the dock and use it in portable mode as well.

The Switch comes with detachable controllers called Joy Con. It also features single and multiplayer capabilities that will be given for free initially, and will later charge per user after the expiration of trial period.

Specs of Nintendo Switch

• 6.2-inch display with 1280x720 pixels HD resolution
• 32GB onboard storage, expandable via external card
• Battery life of up to 6 hours
• USB Type C for connecting and charging

Display part of the Nintendo Switch. (Photo Courtesy: Nintendo)

Joy Con remote controllers offer motion controls and more. (Photo Courtesy: Nintendo)

Pricing It Right... Not

There’s a lot to like about the Nintendo Switch and Joy Con controllers. But for $300, surely Nintendo could have bundled them together. Also, at the time of its availability, Switch will only have 8 gaming titles that support all the features that work on the Switch.

Playing on the internet with other users will be chargeable after being free for an initial period. As things stand, Nintendo is betting heavily on the success of Switch (with over 2 million units expected to be shipped). However, at this price, one has to wonder whether it will do the trick.

Also, other than countries like the US, Europe and Japan, there’s no mention of Switch’s launch in India. Even though India isn’t as gaming-savvy as its counterparts, surely that is no reason to keep us away from the Switch?

(With additional inputs)