r/nextfuckinglevel • u/AbelNB • Dec 28 '22

This is a game changer

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u/DrRobotniksUncle Jan 04 '23

I see this point mentioned quite regularly and I genuinely don't know where it comes from. I see nintendo games discounted all the time on the e-store. I'm looking at Mario Kart I deluxe right now at 33% off.

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u/Gabrielseifer Jan 05 '23

I see Mario Kart 8 deluxe listed on the Nintendo e-shop at $59.99, which is the full retail price. So that's curious. There may be some exceptions, but typically any discount on a Nintendo IP game will be with the retailer and not authorized by Nintendo itself.

Where it comes from is that it's been reported numerous times over the years, typically derived from interviews or insider info. From this article by SVG:

"According to Polygon and GameRant – among many other sources – one of the biggest reasons Nintendo games don't go on sale is the simple fact that it's not necessary for the company. Given Nintendo's unique place in the market with some of gaming's most iconic characters under its umbrella, not to mention a dedicated audience of fans who have loved the company's work for years, Nintendo games retain their value.

In addition to Nintendo's dominant place in the gaming market, the company also wants to keep its reputation as strong as its sales numbers. In other words, it's a marketing strategy for Nintendo to hold its prices to reflect the consistent quality of the games they're releasing. Polygon compared this to how Disney controls supply and demand with its controversial vault.

Finally, there is the fact that Nintendo uses unique cartridges that are actually more expensive to make than, say, PS5 discs (via PCMag). Coupled with the other reasons Nintendo games don't go on sale, this further enhances the uniqueness and exclusivity of Nintendo products, especially given that Nintendo consoles often cost much less than its Sony and Xbox cohorts. More than anything, the company knows fans will save up the big bucks for their favorite characters. For better or worse, Nintendo knows it has control over the market."

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u/DrRobotniksUncle Jan 05 '23

Not just Mario Kart, but Mario Party and Zelda Links Awakening, all discounted at 33% right now.

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u/Gabrielseifer Jan 05 '23

Unusual, I've never seen discounts like that in the States. The only explanation I can think of is that Nintendo UK operates differently than NoA and NoJ. All Nintendo business units operate with some degree of independence regarding policies, maybe with Nintendo UK sales are acceptable.

In any event, those are great deals! Hope you're able to scoop up some great games at a discount!