Former Blizzard Chief Expresses Disinterest in Switch 2

Recently, Mike Ybarra, a former top executive at Blizzard and Xbox, didn’t mince words about the Nintendo Switch 2, simply calling it a “hard pass.” After Nintendo’s April 2 Direct broadcast, which did catch some fans off guard with a few surprises, not every reaction was positive. The Nintendo Switch 2 has faced criticism, and Ybarra is among those expressing dissatisfaction.

During the Direct, Nintendo didn’t disclose pricing information, but subsequent press releases revealed the console’s price tag at $450 in the U.S., with certain games potentially costing $80 or more, depending on their editions. This revealed pricing left many fans with what can only be described as sticker shock. The absence of this critical information during their presentation left a portion of the audience feeling misled, with some even labeling Nintendo as “disrespectful,” a sentiment echoed by former Nintendo PR managers.

Post-Direct, Mike Ybarra took to Twitter to voice his concerns. Alongside dismissing the console, Ybarra criticized the pricing structure for games like Mario Kart World, set at $80, and expressed disappointment over the console’s reportedly unimpressive performance, described as offering “low frames.” His criticism aligns with that of many fans who, on platforms like Reddit, immediately lambasted Nintendo for the high costs and additional charges for next-gen updates on games they already own.

Ybarra didn’t hold back when mentioning Nintendo lagging in-game chat features, introducing them much later compared to competitors. He also mentioned the new game, Tears of the Kingdom, which, despite running at 4K and 60fps on the Switch 2, appears to him outdated, likening it to a game from the year 2000. This viewpoint isn’t isolated; Shuhei Yoshida, an ex-PlayStation executive, also found the Switch 2 Direct “underwhelming” and remarked on the pricey hardware and games, though he did commend the console’s social features.

Overall, the most contentious issue seems to be the pricing of both the Switch 2 console and its first-party games. Although some point out that older Mario Kart titles, when adjusted for inflation, have reached similar high prices, this argument falls flat as many other studios maintain their games within the $60 to $70 price range. The industry’s response to these prices and features remains to be seen, but growing criticism suggests that Nintendo may not be getting the response they hoped for with the Switch 2.