Before €80 Pokemon Winds and Waves price leak, Game Freak wanted more expensive games

In May, Amazon Germany briefly listed the Pokémon Winds and Waves price as €79.99. The MSRP wouldn’t be shocking for a physical Nintendo title, but Game Freak will likely encourage purchasing both versions. In the infamous Teraleak, fans recently discovered how the studio has lobbied for costlier games.

Higher price, higher profits

On social media, Centro Leaks highlighted documents exposed in the enormous 2024 data breach. One section reveals how Game Freak considered making 2019 Pokémon Sword and Shield more than $60. However, at the time, that was a higher-than-normal price for a Switch game in the U.S.

Another strategy to boost profits was to promote double packs. The leak divulges that 50% of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon buyers purchased the bundle for the 3DS during its first 15 weeks on the market. On the other hand, only 23% of Switch owners took advantage of the Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! dual release.

The Switch 2 Edition of Pokémon Legends: Z-A debuted at $69.99 in October 2025. That was already higher than previous Pokémon games, but Nintendo has flirted with $80 titles. Drawing criticism, Mario Kart World broke new ground launching at this price point. It wouldn’t be surprising if Pokémon Winds and Waves follows when it appears on its 2027 release date.

Winds and Waves value

Whether the Amazon Germany leak was a placeholder or not, €79.99 wouldn’t necessarily correspond to $79.99. With VAT taxes included, Mario Kart World sold in select EU markets for €89.99. Recently, Nintendo has also discounted the digital versions of first-party Switch 2 games like Star Fox.

With the opposition to PlayStation reducing disc production in 2028, physical games have become more appealing. Nevertheless, Scarlet and Violet was slammed for its poor performance. Many players will expect smoother visuals if asked to pay a premium price.

Pokémon Winds and Waves looks even more ambitious with vast open-world environments. Given their track record, some fans doubt Game Freak will maximize the Switch 2 specs to prevent stuttering.