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In a new interview with The Washington Post, Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser stated that the company will use “variable pricing” when deciding to set the price of each Switch 2 game. This is why Mario Kart World costs $79.99 at launch and Donkey Kong Bananza will be $69.99 for the new console. [Thanks, The Washington Post!]

As part of the discussion regarding costs, Bowser went over some of the criteria the company will look at when making a decision. When speaking to Gene Park, he noted, “We’ll look at each game, really look at the development that’s gone into the game, the breadth and depth of the gameplay, if you will, the durability over time and the repeatability of gameplay experiences. Those are all factors, and there’s many more that go into consideration of what is the right price point for the game. So I think you can anticipate that there will be variable pricing, and we haven’t set a benchmark.”

Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza aren’t the only Switch 2 games where we already know the price to give us an idea of the costs associated with owning and playing titles on the new console. Square Enix already shared the Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster cost, which is $39.99. Street Fighter 6 Year 1-2 Fighters Edition will be $59.99 when it launches, which is in line with what the game cost on other platforms when it debuted. With that, we also need to take into that it includes DLC fighters’ es. 

One of the cheapest exclusive titles is Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. The US price isn’t available yet. We do know that will cost 990 yen in Japan, which is about $6.70. That’s a game that consists of quizzes about the console, tech demos, and some minigames.

The Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World will launch on June 5, 2025, and Donkey Kong Bananza will debut on July 17, 2025. 

The post Nintendo Using ‘Variable Pricing’ to determine Switch 2 Game Price  appeared first on Siliconera.

When it comes to Donkey Kong games, we tend to get trickier, 2D or 2.5D platformers that often get really punishing! Nintendo is switching things up for the Switch 2 launch however, with the new Donkey Kong Bananza that feels more like an open world adventure along the lines of Super Mario Odyssey. It’s definitely feeling Iike it’ll fill the action-adventure game for all ages for the launch window and, after a brief encounter with it, I saw some rather promising parts.

Donkey Kong Bananza begins on Ingot Isle. It’s an island with shocking mines that include Golden Banana gems. It’s attracted all sorts of apes, and Donkey Kong is among them. (He’s rocking a more classic look as well!) He’s fixated on the gems, early on even snagging another monkey miner’s find due to the obsession. However, a group of more malicious simians known as Void Co show up to steal them. With a new ally named Odd Rock on his side, literally since the character is riding on his shoulder, Donkey Kong heads after them.

The initial Ingot Isle mines portion of Donkey Kong Bananza is dedicated to setting the stage. We see how Donkey Kong can punch his way through solid rocks to get the Golden Banana gems. (Which he then busts up and eats. Is that healthy? He seems fine!) Approaching NPC monkeys can help provide insights or allow us to talk with them to advance the adventure. Early on, you have an option to turn on tips that include exclamation points guiding you to your next objectives, which will show up over points of interest and help move you forward. 

It’s in these early spots that we get to see some of Donkey Kong’s new tricks. Though many are old ones being shown in a new type of adventure. His bashing things is one element. His punches can break through walls and help create paths to places in spots. You can do a ground pound on places to flip switches or slap the ground. It’s possible to scale walls and climb up them to reach new places. He’s a versatile ape!

After seeing Void Co’s theft, my Donkey Kong Bananza session took me to another new area called Lagoon Layer. After eavesdropping on some scavenger monkeys in this layer, we learn that we can rip explosive blocks from walls and toss them to defeat enemies or further destroy the environment, perhaps leading to secret areas hiding more items, Golden Banana gems, or fossils that you can trade in later. 

Most of my time in this area felt like it was trying to introduce this mechanic and offer opportunities to experiment with it. There are multiple walls with visible gold and items embedded in them, providing plenty of opportunity to yank a bomb off a wall and through to collect pieces. One devious enemy features a spiked top, spinning blades that help it fly, and a claw at the bottom that lets it pick up rubble and drop it on your to attack. How do you beat it? Grab a bomb and chuck it! I was also pleased to find a visibly weak wall that could be bombed to access a hidden area, with collectible items and a fossil inside. 

The main point of this area is to help the monkeys around out and reach a new area by stopping a Void Co block keeping water from draining. A key has to be found to unlock it. That means using bombs to destroy the stony, armored exterior of a large enemy near the lock to reveal the golden skeleton holding a key at the center. Once you break through, it’s easy to bust it up, steal the key, pop it in the lock, and hit it to spin it to advance to the next spot.

I was a bit uncertain about Donkey Kong Bananza at first glance, even though I love the new design for the lead. After trying it, it feels like the same sort of bright and colorful adventure as Super Mario Odyssey, with nooks to explore, additional objectives to perhaps undertake as we head to face Void Co, and lots of things to collect. Donkey Kong Bananza feels like it’s his Super Mario Odyssey, and the Switch 2 game is big on busting things up through colorful layers.

Donkey Kong Bananza will come to the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025.

The post Preview: Digging Into Donkey Kong Bananza  appeared first on Siliconera.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is releasing soon, and people are excited to get their hands on the next generation of Nintendo console. The company is still announcing games that will make up its 2025 lineup, including in the March Nintendo Direct, which includes both games for the original console, and the Switch 2. If you’re interested in which first-party games will launch on Nintendo Switch in 2025, we have everything you need to know.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD 5ca2l

A remake of the 2010 Wii game Donkey Kong Country Returns launched for the Nintendo Switch under the name Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on January 16. This is a reboot of the Donkey Kong Country series of side-scrolling platformers that originally launched on the SNES. You can read our full Donkey Kong Country Returns HD review here.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition 4u4c36

A full remaster of the Wii U action RPG from 2015, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition launched for Nintendo Switch on March 20. This updated version includes new characters and story beats, as long as smaller changes to gameplay. You can find our full Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition review here.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A 195733

Announced during Pokémon Day 2024, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the next game in the Legends subseries following Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It will feature a different battle system from both the mainline Pokémon games and Arceus, and will focus on catching Pokémon out in the wild. The game’s Royal Tournament was announced during the March Nintendo Direct. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is launching in late-2025, and is expected to be available on both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond 4o2l47

The long-awaited new entry in the Metroid Prime series, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is scheduled to launch in 2025. Metroid Prime 4 was first announced in 2017, but we didn’t see footage until 2024. The first-person action game will see the return of Samus Aran, and introduces psychic power to her arsenal. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is expected to launch late in the year, and be available for both Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2.

Mario Kart World th45

Mario Kart World is a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. This latest mainline entry in the series will boast the most players at once with up to 24 players in the lobby. In addition, the game will feature an entire open-world map to explore. Players can pick select tracks to race on or even explore the various regions with friends.

Kirby Air Riders 3g5i5u

This looks to be a full-on remake or at least remaster of the original Nintendo GameCube racing game. Players will be able to race as Kirby and friends throughout gorgeous landscapes. Perhaps most surprisingly, Masahiro Sakurai himself will be returning to the helm as the director of this Switch 2 title. It will release sometime for Switch 2 in 2025.

Donkey Kong Bananza 145q18

This open-world adventure from Nintendo appears to be a pseudo-successor to Donkey Kong 64. Players will be able to explore a vast world. There are mines, open areas, and plenty of enemies to fight in the Switch 2 game. Most of the adventure seems to take place from a 3D perspective. However, there are also the occasional, traditional 2D moments. It will release on July 17, 2025.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch on June 5, 2025, and a Nintendo Direct with more information on the console appeared on April 2, 2025.

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