French retailer will drop Switch 2 price permanently, making gamers wonder about slow sales
As buyers see price increases on competing consoles, one French retailer will soon discount the Switch 2. On October 16th, the Leclerc chain plans to sell the Pokémon Legends: Z-A bundle for €469, rather than its normal €499 MSRP. According to the prominent leaker billbil-kun, the store will also permanently slash the price of other bundles.
Gamers are now debating whether the Switch 2 price drop is a product of stiff retail competition. Hypermarkets like Leclerc often use sales on high-profile items to attract shoppers. While it wouldn’t benefit from console sales, buyers may also purchase other items that are more profitable. Products intentionally sold at a loss are called loss leaders.
North American buyers have rarely seen sales on the latest Nintendo handheld, with discounts on new Switch 2 games also uncommon. However, some European markets provide more opportunities for savings. Billbil-kun believes that the French retail chain will also reduce the price of the Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle. The kart racer launched for as much as €90, but it was not long before competition drove its price down in countries including Germany.
Demand may have temporarily waned for the Switch 2
Even if the Leclerc Switch 2 price drop isn’t a sign of trouble, there have been indications of slowing sales in some EU nations. In Spain, Vandal Radio reported that the PS5 regained the top spot in console sales during August. The podcasters also noted poor sales of third-party Switch 2 games, which may explain the surprising trend. Game-Key Cards that rely on downloads have been a common criticism of these titles.
The Nintendo handheld sold at a blistering pace when it debuted in France, beating the previous record set by the PS5. It’s unlikely that the gaming giant shares any concerns over the console’s future. Starting with Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the company will release a series of anticipated first-party Switch 2 games during the holiday season.
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