Nintendo has announced that starting in May, the physical releases of new first-party Switch 2 games will cost more than their digital counterparts. The change comes with the release of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, which will be priced at $70 for a physical copy compared to $60 for its digital version.

This shift reflects different costs associated with producing and distributing each format, according to Nintendo. Retailers are still free to set their own prices, but most typically follow Nintendo’s recommendations on pricing. For now, the change doesn’t affect already released Switch 2 games, which usually cost between $70 and $80.

The news raises questions about whether this will be a permanent flat tax of $10 or if it will vary with each game's base price. It’s also unclear how this might impact future Nintendo Switch 2 Edition releases, which include a Switch 1-compatible base game and a $10 or $20 DLC add-on.

This move could influence player preferences, nudging them towards digital purchases for convenience. However, it remains to be seen whether this pricing strategy will become the norm as fans wait eagerly for future releases.