It is still unclear when the Nintendo Switch 2 will be released. The technical specifications are also still a secret. What is now clear, however, is that old games for the Nintendo Switch will run on the successor console. The trade in used games and thus Gamestop, among others, could benefit from this.
Stationary retailers are having a hard time with the change from selling physical game boxes to pure digital downloads. The console providers dominate the market through their own online shops, lure customers with bargains, and link the console experience directly with shopping. There are hardly any shorter routes. dispensing with drives Both the new Xbox Series X and, most recently, the Playstation 5 Slim show where the path has been heading for a long time – and is still heading. With the Nintendo Switch, games could not only be installed via cartridges, but also downloaded and played digitally. Of all things, the Nintendo's new backward compatibility feature could boost the trade in used video games again.
Nintendo Switch 2: Used games are valuable again
Yes, the numbers initially speak against physical games: modules and discs are dying out, but it will still be a while before digital downloads have really replaced the boxes. According to an analysis by the German Game Association, purchasing games via download is becoming more attractive every year. Around 40 percent of all console sales are now processed digitally, and 98 percent for PCs.
The Nintendo Switch is, however, a kind of Gallic village. Fans of the hybrid console ensure that the share of digital sales in the console sector is not even greater. The current split is around 50:50. Every second game for the Nintendo Switch is sold as a physical boxed version. This emerged from the annual report in early summer 2024.
Digital games are becoming more and more relevant, but it is Nintendo fans who appreciate boxes. This is exactly what Gamestop could ultimately benefit from, provided that the announced backwards compatibility of the Nintendo Switch 2 is comprehensive. No other brick-and-mortar retailer relies on second-hand games as widely as Gamestop. Fans could therefore get to know the stores as good places to go for older games - and thus possibly take a step back to buying locally.
The core feature of the Nintendo Switch 2 fits perfectly with Gamestop's current marketing: the retail chain never tires of emphasizing how valuable it can be to actually own the games you buy. The retro idea that has been communicated so often recently also fits in with this. Nintendo Switch 2 combined with fans' passion for physical games could ultimately prove to be a real win for Gamestop.
| # | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Nintendo Switch Console Neon Red/Neon Blue* |
279,00 EUR |
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| 2 |
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Nintendo Switch™ console (neon blue/neon red) Switch Sports set... * |
284,00 EUR |
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| 3 |
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Nintendo Switch – OLED model (white) + Super Mario Bros.... * |
339,99 EUR |
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| 4 |
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Nintendo Switch Console 32Gb Neon Red/Neon Blue + Mario Kart 8... * | 409,99 EUR |
* = affiliate link. If you purchase via one of the links, we receive a portion of the purchase price as a commission. There are no additional costs for you, but you can support our portal by doing so. Last updated on 2024-12-10 / Affiliate Links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. Images from Amazon PA API.
