The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an expensive game for the Nintendo Switch, being the first title on the platform to make the jump to $70.
But why is the Breath of the Wild sequel so pricey?
How Much Does Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Cost?
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom retails for $69.99 USD, a full $10 higher than most other Nintendo Switch AAA titles.
This is the first Switch game that has ever debuted at $70 – but it may not be the last. Nintendo has confirmed that Tears of the Kingdom isn’t likely to be the only $70 game on the platform.
However, the publisher reports that the increase in price will be determined on a ‘case-by-case basis’ rather than applying the new price tag to all upcoming releases.
It’s worth noting that all major upcoming titles, including the likes of Pikmin 4, are all still $60 pre-orders.
Read More: How to Get a Huge Discount on Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
Tears of the Kingdom: Why Is It So Expensive?
According to a Q&A with the Head of Nintendo USA Doug Bowser (via AP News), Tears of the Kingdom justifies its $69.99 price tag by providing “an incredibly full, deeply immersive experience.”
“The price point reflects the type of experience that fans can expect when it comes to playing this particular game,” Bowser commented.
It’s worth noting that TOTK is far, far longer than Breath of the Wild before it. But is that alone enough to justify the extra $10?
It makes sense for Nintendo to finally be following a trend of rising prices in the video game market. After all, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S games now retail at approximately $70 too.
However, the Nintendo Switch is not a next-gen console – in fact, it’s starting to look remarkably last-gen. And despite the device’s overwhelming success, we think a lot of gamers will be unhappy to see Nintendo raising prices.
Ultimately though, Tears of the Kingdom is likely so expensive because gamers will be more than willing to pay the $70 needed to play it.
And with Zelda TOTK’s reviews making it sound like 2023’s Game of the Year already, it sounds like it’s worth the extra cash.