Nintendo’s Switch 2 offensive: star fox, call of duty, and the price of doing business

Nintendo is finally tired of the "Switch Pro" rumors and has decided to just bury us in actual announcements instead. The latest news cycle from the House of Mario isn't just a trickle; it’s a full-blown flood confirming that the Nintendo Switch 2 is not only real, but it’s coming for your wallet with some surprisingly heavy hitters.

Looking at this practically, the headline act is the confirmation that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is landing on the Switch 2 this October. This is the first real fruit of Microsoft’s "trust us, we’ll put CoD on everything" legal campaign during the Activision merger, and seeing it actually materialize is a trip. We’ve spent years watching "impossible ports" struggle on the original Switch, so the idea of a modern Modern Warfare running on a Nintendo handheld is the ultimate litmus test for this new hardware.

In the spirit of clarity, the June 25th release of a new Star Fox is the real "thank you" to the fans who have been starving since the Wii U era. Nintendo confirmed a dedicated Star Fox Direct, promising that Fox McCloud and the crew are finally ready for liftoff on the new console. It’s a classic Nintendo move: pair a massive third-party juggernaut like Call of Duty with a beloved, slightly dusty first-party IP to make sure everyone is paying attention.

Here's the challenge we need to navigate, though: the "Price Revision." Nintendo quietly posted a notice about a price adjustment for the Switch 2 console before it’s even fully dominated the market. Whether this is a response to the current economic landscape or just Nintendo realizing they can charge a premium for a tablet that plays Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, it’s a move that warrants a healthy dose of skepticism. We’ve seen this play before, and it usually means the "affordable" era of Nintendo gaming is getting a bit of a markup.

Speaking of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, seeing Cloud Strife’s latest adventure migrate to Nintendo hardware alongside Bethesda’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle proves that the Switch 2 is aiming for parity, not just "good enough." Add in the new Nintendo Music app—because why put your soundtracks on Spotify when you can make a bespoke app for them?—and you have a company that is feeling incredibly confident about its next five years.

I’d say it’s very likely that the Switch 2 launch window is going to be the most expensive period in a Nintendo fan’s life. Between the hardware, the inevitable "Pro" controllers, and a launch lineup that actually includes games people want to play on day one, the "Nintendo Tax" is about to reach its final form.

Let's plan for the long game: if the Switch 2 can actually deliver Modern Warfare 4 without looking like a slideshow, Nintendo might just repeat the 2017 magic. If not, we’re all just buying a very expensive Star Fox machine. Honestly? I think most of us are okay with that.

Sources: Nintendo Australia News & Articles.