zAvailable on the $500 Switch 2, the new Zelda game costs $60 for a digital copy and $70 for a physical one|@NintendoAmerica|X
Gaming giant Nintendo released the highly anticipated remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time today to boost console sales during the holidays.
Available on the $500 Switch 2, the new Zelda game costs $60 for a digital copy and $70 for a physical one. It offers updated mechanics to capture both longtime fans and new generations.
The Japanese video game company hopes the classic game will encourage console purchases, as sales fell 34.4% year over year.
Circana’s executive director of games coverage expects most Switch 2 owners to buy the remake. Meanwhile, the Zelda-themed special-edition console remains in high demand and repeatedly sells out.
Analysts believe that the remake would help Nintendo.
Metacritic has already given it a 96 score, but the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI, which releases on PlayStation and Xbox later this month, would give it a tough fight during the holiday season.
However, amid mounting challenges in the gaming industry, Nintendo may be better positioned than Microsoft and Sony. Its cheaper consoles and games, coupled with less demanding hardware requirements, could help it weather the global memory shortage.
While Nintendo raised the Switch 2 price from $450 to $500 in September, its hardware remains cheaper than competitors like the PlayStation 5 ($649) and Xbox Series X ($750).
Across the US market, console hardware spending is down 9% this year, according to executives at Circana.