Pokemon Legends: Z-A May Continue a Problematic Switch 2 Trend Even Before Its Launch

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Summary

  • Pokemon Gen 10 might release in 2026, leaving Pokemon Legends: Z-A as the big launch for this year.
  • Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s price set at $59.99 for Switch and $69.99 for Switch 2, sparking controversy.
  • With the surcharge for physical copies or if Mario Kart World’s prices are applied, Legends: Z-A may cost around $80.

Fans had anticipated the release of “Pokemon” Gen 10 to occur in 2025 based on Game Freak’s usual three-year development cycle for main series games; however, there has been no news regarding this game so far, with rumors suggesting a 2026 launch instead. This means that “Pokemon Legends: Z-A” will be the major release for the franchise in 2021. Latest leaks about “Pokemon Legends: Z-A” hint at new Mega Evolutions for existing creatures, but no new Pokémon or regional forms are expected to appear in this game. Today, The Pokemon Company officially confirmed that “Pokemon Legends: Z-A” will be released on October 16, promptly followed by price leaks.

As a gamer eagerly waiting for the Nintendo Switch 2, I can’t help but notice that the discussions about game prices haven’t slowed down one bit. With Mario Kart World set to retail at an eye-watering $79.99, it’s got everyone talking. Whether you opt for the digital or physical version, the price tag remains the same. However, it’s been confirmed that physical games will primarily be cartridges with digital keys, and there’s usually a $10 surcharge attached to these.

Now, Centro Leaks, known for their Pokemon leaks, has stirred the pot once again by revealing the prices of Pokemon Legends: Z-A on Twitter. If accurate, this revelation is sure to rekindle the debate about game prices for the Switch 2.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Switch 2 Price is Another Controversy Waiting to Happen

As a passionate gamer, I’ve got to say, the buzz among us gaming community was far from positive when it came to the whopping $80 price tag for Mario Kart World. A storm of comments like “Bring down the prices” began flooding Nintendo livestreams and video discussions dedicated to this game or the Switch 2 in general.

For years now, Pokemon games have been sitting pretty at a $60 price point, and that won’t change for Pokemon Legends: Z-A on the Switch. Yet, here’s where it gets interesting – its digital version on the upcoming Switch 2 is rumored to be priced at $69.99. But if these whispers are true, there might even be an additional $10 charge for the physical version, making it a bit of a reach for our wallets.

Keep in mind that if you own Pokemon Legends: Z-A on Nintendo Switch, you can upgrade it to the Nintendo Switch 2 for an additional fee of $10.

The Nintendo Switch 2 pricing debate is resurfacing once more, as the console’s price tag has left some fans surprised, along with a noticeable increase in game prices. The situation remains unclear due to apparent discrepancies between digital and physical versions of games in the US compared to Europe, such as the upcoming physical release of Mario Kart World, priced at €90 in Europe while only $80 in the US. It’s yet to be confirmed whether this pricing trend will apply to all Switch 2 games, but if it does, titles like Pokemon Legends: Z-A may retail for €80 or €90 in Europe and approximately $80 in the US.

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but notice that if the physical copy of Pokemon Legends: Z-A sets me back $80, that means it’ll be a whopping $20 more than what I paid for Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. That’s quite a jump! Even if Centro Leaks’ predictions pan out, a digital version of Pokemon Legends: Z-A will still cost an extra $10 compared to past games, at least on the Switch 2. The reason for this price hike is said to be the superior 4K image quality and enhanced performance of Switch 2 games, a detail that’s even confirmed on the Nintendo store page for Pokemon Legends: Z-A, suggesting this might indeed be the case.

Why Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Price May Not Matter, In The End

As a dedicated Pokemon fan, I can confidently say that the upcoming release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A is shaping up to be a massive hit. The return of Mega Evolutions, a battle gimmick beloved by fans, has fueled an enormous amount of excitement for this game. This could very well mean it’s the first Pokemon game to retail at $70 (or even $80), but given the positive response, this trend might continue. Since it’s not exclusive to Switch 2, I expect strong sales across all platforms. The real question is how well it will perform in terms of sales, but with such anticipation, it seems likely that it will do well.

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2025-05-28 23:25