When GameStop began listing the new amiibo set to launch alongside the Nintendo Switch 2, people noticed something suspicious: the prices were inflated from what amiibo used to cost. It may have been 11 years ago, but when Nintendo’s “toys to life” figures launched in 2014, they were originally priced at $12.99. That eventually rose to $15.99, and some select amiibo were more expensive (such as the deluxe-sized Detective Pikachu or the Mega Yarn Yoshi), but generally speaking, the figurines weren’t too extreme. For the upcoming Switch 2 generation, however, amiibo collectors are certainly going to feel the hurt.
This past weekend, Walmart started to list new amiibo to coincide with the launch of the Switch 2, and it confirmed the pricing GameStop had listed. Amiibo will now cost $29.99 for regular ones, and something like the Street Fighter 6 amiibo will run you $39.99. That’s a dramatic increase over the original price, to the tune of more than double the cost. That seems to be a trend this generation, though a lot of the extra burden is likely a mixture of general inflation and President Trump’s recent tariffs.
I, personally, tapped out of amiibo pretty quickly because I didn’t want to get sucked up in some craze that I’d inevitably lose. I’ve purchased roughly ten of them over the years, and while I think they’re neat, Nintendo really missed an opportunity to make some big crossover game with all of the figurines. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Ultimate are the only games that truly make use of amiibo in any interesting capacity, and it’s a shame nothing else has happened with them.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
