作者：Online Games VIP Editorial
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IGN reports that physical Metroid Ravenous preorders for Nintendo Switch 2 have fallen to $59.88 at Walmart, with Amazon expected to match.
Physical preorders for Metroid Ravenous have dropped to $59.88 at Walmart, according to IGN, putting the Nintendo Switch 2 game $10.11 below its stated $69.99 physical MSRP. IGN also reports that Amazon has historically matched this type of Nintendo preorder discount, giving shoppers another retailer to watch.
The lower price applies to the standard physical edition. IGN says preorders for the more limited Special Edition sold out within minutes at most retailers after the game’s reveal, so the standard release is currently the more accessible option for players who want a boxed copy. A promotional code that could reduce the price to $49.88 is mentioned in the supplied deal summary, but IGN’s source text does not identify or confirm such a code.
IGN reports that Walmart is selling physical copies of Metroid Ravenous for $59.88 during the preorder period. The publication describes this as a $10 discount from the game’s $69.99 physical MSRP, although the exact saving from $69.99 is technically $10.11. The practical point for buyers is that the listed price is below the standard physical cost.
According to IGN, the discount follows a pricing pattern used for other recent Nintendo preorders, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. IGN also points to Star Fox, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, and Switch Sports Resort as other examples where physical and digital pricing created a similar gap. These comparisons provide context for the offer, but they do not establish how long Walmart’s current price will remain available.
IGN says the game’s preorders opened shortly after its trailer appeared during a recent Nintendo Direct. The publication also reports strong demand for the Special Edition, which sold out in minutes across most retailers. That information explains why the standard edition discount is notable: players who missed the premium package still have a way to reserve a physical copy for less than the listed physical MSRP.
Amazon is also relevant to the deal. IGN reports that the retailer has matched these Nintendo preorder discounts each time in the past. That is not the same as confirmation that every Amazon listing will show the identical price at every moment, so shoppers should verify the final price before completing an order.
IGN attributes the immediate discount to Nintendo’s pricing structure for this console generation. The source says digital copies of Metroid Ravenous have an MSRP of $59.99, while physical copies have an MSRP of $69.99. Walmart’s $59.88 preorder price therefore brings the boxed version close to the stated digital price.
For players who already prefer digital purchases, the promotion does not necessarily change the value calculation. The physical preorder is most relevant to people who want a cartridge, collect boxed releases, or prefer the option of reselling or lending a game later. Those advantages are player-focused considerations rather than claims made by IGN, and their importance depends on each buyer’s habits.
IGN reports that the physical release includes the full game on the cartridge. The publication specifically contrasts this with releases that use a game key card, where the cartridge may not contain the complete playable software. That distinction matters for buyers who want a physical copy with more of the game present on the cartridge itself, although the supplied source does not provide technical details about installation requirements, updates, or storage usage.
Analysis: the discount makes the physical version easier to justify for players who were already deciding between formats. At $59.88, the standard cartridge is priced almost in line with the reported digital MSRP while retaining the physical packaging and cartridge. However, the source does not confirm whether the price will be available at launch, whether it applies to every region, or whether any retailer-specific conditions affect the order.
IGN reports that Metroid Ravenous is scheduled to launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on January 28, 2027. The source identifies it as a follow-up to Metroid Dread and describes it as a new 2D side-scrolling adventure starring Samus, the series’ space-faring bounty hunter.
That positioning gives the preorder some useful context. Metroid Dread established a recent 2D direction for the series, while Ravenous is presented by IGN as a continuation of that style rather than a move into a different genre. The source’s description of the trailer also indicates that Samus has been attacked, injured, and stranded on a moon, creating the immediate survival situation that frames the game’s premise.
Analysis: the survival setup could give Ravenous a more hostile tone than a routine return to familiar exploration. The supplied source describes Samus as behaving in a brutal and animalistic way in the trailer, but that is interpretation of the footage rather than a confirmed explanation of the game’s full mechanics or story. Players should therefore treat the tone and premise as early signals, not a complete account of what the final adventure will contain.
IGN also reports that two amiibo are scheduled to release alongside the game: Samus and a Chozo Statue. The publication says both have been difficult to find and that Best Buy recently opened another wave of preorders. The supplied source does not state how many units are available, how long that preorder wave will last, or whether the amiibo provide in-game functionality.
The strongest reason to act early is price protection, not a confirmed scarcity of the standard edition. IGN says these discounts are generally tied to the preorder period and warns that the $59.88 price should not be expected to continue after launch. That makes the offer potentially useful for buyers who already know they want a physical copy, but it is not a reason for every player to order immediately.
Preordering also means committing before the game’s launch. The source confirms the release date and broad format, but it does not provide hands-on impressions, a review, performance testing, file-size information, or details about any launch-day update. Players who prefer to wait for technical information have a clear reason to hold off, especially because the source does not confirm whether the discounted price will return later.
For collectors, the Special Edition’s reported sellouts add a separate consideration. IGN’s report suggests that the premium version is much harder to secure, but it does not say that the standard edition is close to selling out. The standard preorder should therefore be treated as a discounted buying option, not as proof that regular copies are becoming scarce.
The physical cartridge detail is another meaningful factor. IGN says the full game is included on the cartridge, which may matter to players who dislike game key cards. Still, buyers should not infer from that statement that all future content, patches, or optional downloads will be included. IGN’s source does not explain how updates or post-launch content will be handled.
What remains unconfirmed
The supplied IGN text does not confirm a working promo code that would lower the Walmart price to $49.88. The deal summary raises that possibility, but without a code, eligibility rules, expiration time, or retailer confirmation, the lower figure should not be treated as an available price. Shoppers should use the checkout total as the final authority.
Amazon’s exact current price also remains something to verify. IGN says Amazon has matched comparable Nintendo preorder discounts, but the source does not provide a direct Amazon price in the supplied text. Inventory, regional listings, and retailer policies can change, so a buyer should check that the correct Nintendo Switch 2 edition is selected before ordering.
The release date of January 28, 2027 is reported by IGN, but the source does not provide a launch window, preload details, review timing, or information about possible delays. It also does not confirm whether the standard physical edition will be available in every market where Nintendo Switch 2 is sold.
For now, the next evidence worth watching is straightforward: whether Walmart keeps the $59.88 price, whether Amazon displays the same offer, whether a $49.88 promotion is ever officially confirmed, and whether the standard edition remains available as the January 2027 release approaches. Those details will determine whether this is simply a normal Nintendo preorder adjustment or the best confirmed physical price for Metroid Ravenous before launch.