Nintendo did its usual announcement spiel with Pokémon Winds and Waves last February by simply dropping a trailer and going radio silent (well, almost). But despite launching in 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, it seems Amazon Germany jumped the gun and listed the game for €79.99, as reported by VICE and other outlets.
This means it could cost $79.99 in the United States. Why? It’s the physical version, which Nintendo began pricing differently from digital releases of its first-party Switch 2 titles. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, for example, costs $60 digitally and $70 physically, while the upcoming Star Fox retails for $50 digitally and $60 physically.
Since Pokémon Winds and Waves will follow the same pattern (unless something drastic changes), physical collectors are back to paying $80 for a first-party Switch 2 title. It’s 2025 all over again, with Mario Kart World serving as the first game in history to demand $80, although that was in both formats.
Again, we’ll have to wait for an official announcement from Nintendo, but the fact that retail listings have gone live could also indicate something at the next Nintendo Direct. It’s allegedly taking place in mid-June, around or after the Summer Game Fest showcase. Perhaps this is further evidence that it will be a general Direct and not a Partner Showcase? Stay tuned in the meantime.
