After eight years of the Nintendo Switch, the company is preparing to fully announce, reveal, and release the Switch 2. With that, some things are changing.
The Nintendo Switch has been one of gaming’s most successful consoles. It is currently battling for the number 1 spot on the all-time sales list against Sony’s PlayStation 2 and its own Nintendo DS.
All of that is partially due to the different programs and rewards systems available for those who purchase the console and games for it.
Gold Points Going Poof & Game Vouchers Only for Original Switch Titles
Nintendo launched the My Nintendo program alongside both gold and platinum points back in 2016. Gamers could net 5% of their digital purchase in gold pints valid for their next purchase in Nintendo’s eShop. Their platinum points were given when completing challenges and used for redeeming mostly digital, non-game prizes.
Now, the company is ending that program starting March 25, 2025. In true Nintendo fashion, there’s no full reasoning offered, but we can imagine the eventual Switch 2 release played a major part in the decision.
As originally reported by VGC, Nintendo’s Game Voucher program will be changing. The vouchers will only work on original Nintendo Switch titles, not for games made for the Switch 2.
The game vouchers program started in May 2019. It allowed gamers to purchase two game vouchers for a combined price of $99. Those vouchers could then be used to redeem any two games published by Nintendo, like Super Mario Wonder or Octopath Traveler.
This would save gamers around $20 overall seeing as Switch games typically retail for $59.99.
But…Why?
Games have been increasing in price throughout the decades. A modern game made for the PS5 or Xbox Series can go for as much as $69.99 for the standard edition or $79.99 if a version with specific add-ons exists. This may be the reason we’re seeing this change now.
The Switch 2 is rumored to be about as powerful as a baseline PS4; a huge upgrade from the power available inside the original Switch. If Nintendo is using that as one of many trends to follow to justify price increases for their games, their new games could end up being more expensive than the ones currently available.
That being said, it’s also possible Nintendo could revamp or reintroduce the Game Voucher program with a slightly different price, but eligible on Switch 2 titles. We’ll have to wait and see.
Nintendo has been making the rounds recently for their adamant belief that emulation is illegal and worth suing developers over, but also for the speculation about what their next console will truly be like. They plan on holding a Nintendo Direct dedicated to the successor of the Switch: on April 2, 2025. There, we may get answers to the questions we have regarding these changes.
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