The former president of Nintendo of America, Reggie Fils-Aimé, has once again addressed the company's pricing strategy. During a talk at New York University, he defended that their games rarely drop in price because they are the best on the market. He compared the company's philosophy to the craftsmanship of Kyoto, a city known for its excellence in ceramics and porcelain, thus justifying a fair price that does not change over time.
Patch-free development, a distinctive technical approach 🎮
According to Fils-Aimé, Nintendo releases complete, ready-to-play titles, without the massive day-one updates that dominate the industry. This implies a more controlled development cycle focused on final product optimization before sale. While other companies deliver half-baked software and finish it with patches, Nintendo bets on a model where the cartridge or disc contains the definitive experience from the start, thus justifying its stable value over time.
The art of paying 60 bucks for a three-year-old cartridge 💸
So, if you buy a Nintendo game in 2027, you'll pay the same as in 2024, but with the excitement of knowing you won't miss the day-one patch. It's like buying a Kyoto vase: beautiful, handcrafted, and it doesn't update to version 2.0 with a mud patch. Sure, the vase doesn't depreciate, but you can't play Mario Kart with it either. At least, the fair price ensures your wallet cries with the same intensity every time.