Ex-Blizzard Chief Declares ‘No Thanks’ to Switch 2

Former Blizzard and Xbox executive, Mike Ybarra, didn’t hold back in expressing his opinion on the newly unveiled Nintendo Switch 2, calling it a “hard pass.” While Nintendo’s extensive April 2 Direct was filled with unexpected announcements, not every surprise garnered applause. Since the presentation, the Switch 2 has been on the receiving end of criticism from fans—and even some notable industry veterans like Ybarra.

During the Direct, Nintendo kept mum about pricing details, which only added fuel to the fire when official statements and listings emerged later. The new console is set to retail at $450 in the U.S., and certain games are priced at $80 or higher, depending on the edition. These prices have not sat well with fans, many of whom are frustrated by what they perceive as Nintendo’s lack of openness. Even former Nintendo PR managers have accused the company of being “disrespectful” by seemingly leaving out these major details intentionally.

In the aftermath of the Direct, Mike Ybarra took to Twitter to voice his frustrations. Critiquing the Switch 2, he highlighted his dismay at the $80 price tag for games like Mario Kart World and the console’s overall cost, especially given its “low frames.” He’s certainly not alone; fans have also been vocal on platforms like Reddit, criticizing the high cost of the console and additional charges for upgraded versions of games they already own.

Additionally, Ybarra was unimpressed with Nintendo’s heavy promotion of its in-game chat feature, which he noted was a late addition compared to other gaming companies. He also commented on Tears of the Kingdom, saying it resembles a game from the year 2000, even though it runs at 4K 60fps on the Switch 2. Ybarra’s views are mirrored by other industry insiders; former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida described the Switch 2 Direct as “underwhelming,” mainly due to the lack of exciting new game announcements. However, Yoshida did commend the console’s social features despite expressing surprise at its cost.

While there’s a diversity of opinions, the pricing of the Switch 2 and its flagship games appears to be the most contentious issue. Many feel that an $80 price tag for games like Mario Kart is excessive, although historically, some older Mario Kart games have cost as much when inflation is considered. Nonetheless, this argument struggles to gain traction as competing platforms tend to keep prices around $60 to $70. How these much-criticized prices and features will impact the Switch 2’s sales remains uncertain, but the growing disapproval wasn’t likely part of Nintendo’s plan.