Pokémon Winds & Waves isn’t out for a while, but it’s already causing some literal waves throughout the industry. Following the reaction to the initial footage and the new starters, fans are starting to wonder when it’s actually going to come out, and most importantly, what the pricing scheme is.
After all, dedicated fans are accustomed to picking up both versions of the game, and that can get pricey in any given generation. For the Switch 2, a fully fledged new console, things could heat up even further. We’re already seeing $80 games on consoles in some cases, including several on the Switch 2. It’s a new era in terms of pricing.
Over on X, fans are discussing that front, and the news isn’t very promising. Thanks to a heads-up garnered from the recent Nintendo Direct, it doesn’t look good if you’re aiming to save money on Generation 10.
Following the Nintendo Direct this week, fans began to notice some first-party games going up on the eShop, including physical editions. One of the first listings to warrant attention was Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, which was later confirmed for a September 17 release date. The kicker? It’s $80 for a physical copy.
As the Centro Leaks X account lays out: “Remember when Nintendo announced new pricing for games in the US, and people thought they were lowering their prices, but we told you they were just being vague on purpose. Well, now it’s confirmed. It’s a price increase on physical games. Welcome to the era of $80 Pokémon games.”
The response isn’t enthusiastic so far, since a lot of fans are keen on buying both versions: “I’ll never pay more than sixty bucks for a new (physical!) game, thankfully they almost always get discounts months down the line.”
As one fan who typically buys the dual packs notes: “So the dual pack can run up to 175 dollars…I’ve bought every dual pack that came up to 123 dollars since Sword and Shield, then Scarlet and Violet, but almost 60 dollars more than what they originally cost is crazy. Well, times are changing.”
Given the heavy increase in games across the board, things are changing rapidly. Hardware is especially affected, as Switch 2 fans will have to deal with higher costs later this year, and by the time Winds & Waves comes out, that price could rise even further.
It’s going to be an interesting era for gaming by the time Pokémon Winds & Waves hits. We may even have a light confirmation for the PlayStation 6 or XBOX’s Project Helix by then.
- Released
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2027
- Developer(s)
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Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
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The Pokemon Company, Nintendo
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Number of Players
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Single-player
Test