The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is Nintendo’s first $70 game, and Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser has shared why Nintendo chose to increase the price of this particular Nintendo Switch title.
“We’re looking at what the game has to offer,” Bowser told AP News in a recent interview. “I think fans will find this an incredibly full, deeply immersive experience. The price reflects the kind of experience fans can expect when it comes to playing this particular game. This is not a price we will necessarily have on all of our titles. It’s actually a pretty common pricing model here or in Europe or other parts of the world where the price can vary depending on the game itself.”
Bowser’s statement echoes what Nintendo has previously said on the matter. Shortly after revealing Zelda’s $70 price tag, Nintendo confirmed that it is “determining the suggested retail price for each Nintendo product on a case-by-case basis.”
Tears of the Kingdom is currently the only $70 game on Nintendo’s list, as the upcoming Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon and Advance Wars 1+2: Reboot Camp are on offer for $60. Even Pikmin 4 – which is launching after Nintendo launches Zelda for $70, retails for $60.
Nintendo is still keeping most of the details about the Breath of the Wild sequel under wraps. The latest trailer (unveiled along with a Collector’s Edition and amiibo) showed off new vehicles and enemy types, but we’ve seen very little of the game which is now less than two months away. The game is certainly packed with secrets and content, given its $70 price tag and the fact that it has the largest file size of any first-party Switch game.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Enemies from the trailer
While fans hope that Nintendo will soon spill the beans, Zelda won’t be at PAX East later this week. Nintendo confirmed to the Boston Herald that while Nintendo will be present at the show, “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will not be shown at PAX East 2023.” Instead, it’s likely that Nintendo will bring March’s Bayonetta Origins or April’s Advance Wars remake to the event.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launches on May 12, 2023 for Nintendo Switch. Be careful on the internet while you wait, as the Tears of the Kingdom artbook appears to have leaked early.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of gaming industry experience with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.