Overview

Mario Kart World $80 Price Tag Controversy, also known as Nintendo Switch 2 Game Prices Controversy, refers to memes and discussions about the 2025 video game Mario Kart World (MKW), developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch 2. Announced during a Nintendo Direct presentation on April 2nd, 2025, the game is scheduled for release on June 5th, 2025, coinciding with the launch of the new console. ​The game will be available in both physical and digital formats, priced at $79.99 for the digital version and $89.99 for the physical edition. Numerous internet users reacted to the announcement and the cost of the game shortly after it was announced, comparing it to the $100 price tag of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV game and posting memes critical of the price increase.

Background

Nintendo officially announced the release of Mario Kart World during an April 2nd, 2025, Nintendo Direct stream. The game is scheduled for release on June 5th, 2025, alongside the Switch 2 console.

The showing introduced several new features, including open-world exploration, off-road racing and dynamic weather and time-of-day changes. It also showcased how players can engage in 24-player races, the largest in the series' history, and experience new modes such as Knockout Tour, where the bottom four racers are eliminated each lap. The game notably features an expanded roster of characters, including unique additions like the cow from Moo Moo Meadows and a stylish Boo.^[1]

The YouTube^[2] upload of the Nintendo Direct segment gathered over 2.7 million views, 111,000 likes and 12,200 comments in a day.

Additionally, MKW was announced to be priced at $79.99 for the digital version and $89.99 for the physical edition, which quickly garnered criticism and backlash. On April 2nd, Redditor^[3] /u/SilvaVE_ posted a screenshot of the price tags attached to Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza to the subreddit /r/NintendoSwitch2, writing, "Nintendo Switch 2 Game Price revealed – WHAT THE F*CK," gathering over 29,000 likes in a day.

Online Reactions

Word of the price hike with Mario Kart World and other Switch 2 games following the Direct event rapidly spread as it was posted around the internet and received media coverage in early April 2025.

For example, on April 2nd, 2025, Redditor^[4] /u/BiAndShy57 posted an I Don't Care Who meme to the subreddit /r/videogames joking about Mario Kart World, saying that they don't care how good it looks and that they won't be paying $80 to buy it. The post gathered over 6,000 upvotes in a day.

That same day, Redditor^[5] /u/CyberspaceAdventurer posted an image of Shaq peeking out from behind a tree to /r/memes, writing, "Rockstar gauging the industry's reaction to $80 Mario Kart World before dropping GTA 6 for $100." The post gathered over 32,000 upvotes in a day.

Also on April 2nd, 2025, Redditor^[6] /u/MrSplashman0 posted a Satisfactory meme to /r/tomorrow, joking about the game being priced at $90 and gathering over 5,000 upvotes in a day.

Later that day, X^[7] user @penquinpanic posted a When I Got The X Autism that read, "When I got the overpriced hobby autism." The post gathered over 40,000 likes in a day.

Various Reactions

Search Interest

External References