Former Blizzard Executive Expresses Disinterest in Switch 2

Former Blizzard and Xbox executive Mike Ybarra didn’t hold back his feelings about the Nintendo Switch 2, dismissing it outright with a decisive “Hard pass.” For many fans, Nintendo’s hour-long Direct presentation on April 2 was packed with surprises, but not all of them were warmly received. Criticism quickly mounted around the Switch 2, and even former industry leaders had their say.

During the Direct, Nintendo remained silent on pricing, only for press releases and official listings to reveal the unsettling numbers later. The new console is priced at $450 in the US, with some games starting at $80 depending on the edition. This led to outcries from fans over the prices and the company’s lack of transparency, with some former PR managers for Nintendo considering it a glaring omission.

In line with these sentiments, Mike Ybarra took to Twitter shortly after the presentation to share his thoughts. His stance was clear—he was unimpressed with the idea of spending $80 for games such as “Mario Kart World” or the hefty console price, especially given its “low frames.” His criticism wasn’t isolated, as fans on platforms like Reddit were quick to mock Nintendo for both the game’s costs and the necessity of paying for next-gen upgrades for games they already own.

Ybarra also wasn’t shy about criticizing the Switch 2’s marketing focus on its in-game chat feature, pointing out that Nintendo is lagging behind other companies in this area. He likened “Tears of the Kingdom,” running at 4K 60fps on the Switch 2, to something from the year 2000. Other former gaming executives, like ex-PlayStation leader Shuhei Yoshida, echoed his disappointment. Yoshida described the Direct as “underwhelming,” noting the lack of new game announcements and the steep prices, though he did acknowledge the console’s social capabilities.

The main point of contention remains the Switch 2’s pricing—for both the console and its first-party titles. The prospect of spending $80 on a new Mario Kart is startling, particularly when past Mario Kart games haven’t breached such high prices, even after accounting for inflation. This pricing strategy starkly contrasts with other studios that have kept their games in the $60 to $70 range. The impact of these prices and other debated features on the Switch 2’s sales success is still uncertain, but the mounting backlash likely isn’t what Nintendo was hoping for.