Image: NintendoThere has been all sorts of commentary about Nintendo's $80 price tag on Mario Kart World and how this could potentially impact the industry and consumers going forward, and now the former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden has shared his thoughts. Appearing on the 'PlayerDriven' YouTube channel and podcast recently, Layden linked Nintendo's game price increase back to the relevance of "exclusives" and how "the only place you can play Mario" and other Nintendo IP is on a Nintendo platform. He also thinks fans often "want that content so bad" it effectively "mitigates the sticker shock". Shawn Layden: "Right here you see, ‘wow, that’s kind of a hefty price hike from Switch 1 to Switch 2 and, wow, 80 bucks for a game?’ But if it’s the only place where you can play Mario, then you get your wallet out and you buy into it… and Donkey Kong and Zelda. That first-party exclusivity kind of mitigates the sticker shock, if you will, of these price hikes, because you want that content so bad" Layden has previously mentioned how exclusives can still play an important role from a marketing perspective, creating a 'FOMO' effect (aka the fear of missing out). Nintendo has justified its Switch 2 price hikes with claims the new entry in the Mario Kart series will offer more than ever before thanks to its new open-world design. It will also be hosting a dedicated Mario Kart Direct broadcast on 17th April, where it plans to share new details about the game. "Whenever we look at a given game, we just look at what is the experience" "If they pull it off, others will follow" Our predictions for Switch 2's biggest launch game How do you feel about the price of Mario Kart? Do you think the fact it's an exclusive helps justify the cost? Tell us in the comments. [source youtu.be, via gonintendo.com] Related Games See Also Share:0 0 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Upgrade Pack Price For Zelda: BOTW And TOTK Has Been Confirmed A pleasant surprise! Nintendo Confirms US Price For 'Switch 2 Welcome Tour' Quick, act surprised! Switch 2 GameChat Choppy Frame Rate Explained By Nintendo It's about ensuring the "game experience" is at its best