Nintendo amiibo figures have become a topic of discussion among Nintendo fans lately following the release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on the Nintendo Switch 2. Normally, this would be a good thing as people have been purchasing new amiibo figures alongside a new game release, but not this time. Amiibo figures and their functionality with various games have gotten under the skin of Switch 2 owners, more specifically if they give buyers enough for the price they purchase them. This is something that's been debated about since amiibo figures were first released on the original Nintendo Switch.

The reason amiibos are the focus of ire from Nintendo fans now is because they are getting more expensive, yet not giving more content for the games they interact with. The latest scrutiny comes from how amiibo figures based on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond hardly give anything unique or interesting when scanned for the game. And unfortunately, it's only going to get worst for Nintendo as more people talk about it online. Here's why Nintendo has an amiibo problem they'll have to deal with after the release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

Collecting amiibo for games

A neat concept that works sometimes

The original concept of Nintendo amiibo was to have figurines that players could buy and collect, as well as have them interact with Nintendo games they play. It's something that was very similar to the figures for games like Disney Infinity and Skylanders, only with iconic Nintendo characters as the collectible figures. And in theory, it is a perfect combination of real-life collectibles and video games for a company like Nintendo and their rabid fan base.

The most basic, and arguably the best interaction between amiibo and game, was the first wave of figures that came with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Scanning the figures into the game allowed for players to have a CPU ally or opponent they could battle with, which made sense for a fighting game. Other Nintendo releases in the years that followed would have a similar blueprint, with Kirby Air Riders on Nintendo Switch 2 being one of the latest examples of this.

However, not every game released on a Nintendo console had the same type of amiibo functionality. Some games would have amiibo figures yielding power-ups and small bonuses for scanning figures, while others would unlock other types of content for their respective games. There was a range of functionality, depending on what was played, that would allow amiibos to have appeal across multiple titles. But the majority of figures were priced around the same cost, with similar designs to what the Super Smash Bros. amiibo were made to be. And it was when things changed regarding how much it cost to buy amiibo that a lot of questions were brought up.

More content vs purchase

Getting enough from buying amiibo

The biggest problem that players have with amiibo is when there isn't much reason to scan them, let alone purchase figures to do so. In Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, scanning the Vi-O-La amiibo figure gives Samus Aran's bike a new color and unlocks music to hear while driving. Although this wouldn't be a big deal with other amiibo that did this, the problem is the Vi-O-La figure cost $40. And to make matters worse, the other Metroid Prime 4: Beyond amiibo figures cost $30 each. Although their functionality with the game is different, fans are still paying enough money on the same level as a downloadable expansion for other video games.

The common argument is that people are paying for a physical figure, not the interaction it has with a game. However, Nintendo constantly encourages players to explore amiibo functionality with a variety of titles, and often promotes amiibo that are tied to new game releases as they come out. It makes sense that someone excited to play Metroid Prime 4: Beyond would be interested in getting the amiibo figures at some point. But when they're paying upwards of $40 for the figures, which is more expensive than the original amiibo line, shouldn't they get more within their game other than minor cosmetics and light bonuses?

For many players vocal about their disappointment online, it feels like scanning any of the amiibos tied to the game should have something more. The same thing was said about other Nintendo Switch 2 games that had their own selection of amiibo, including games like Donkey Kong Bananza, Kirby Air Riders, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.

Locked or bonus content

Finding the right balance

This isn't an easy problem for Nintendo to address in a way that could satisfy everyone. No matter what the company does, if anything at all, it could run the risk of falling into the trap of customers questioning content that is locked behind other purchases. Players want to have more functionality and content from scanning amiibos, but not all of them would be willing to purchase them to get that. At what point does having something like a new location to explore, or an unlockable character tied to an amiibo figure, just cutting off content to get people to buy figures? Even if a game had content developed after the fact with the purpose of being tied to an amiibo release, the impression from some players would be that it was taken out of the main game to do so.

More downloadable content and expansions for games fall within the same price range of what recent amiibo releases cost at retail. You can spend around $20 to get an expansion for your favorite game, or spend that same amount for a new collectible figure. But the two purchases are not viewed the same, despite being the same price. It unfortunately becomes a balancing act to find a healthy compromise for players buying amiibo and getting more than just a simple reward from them in games.

Would it make sense for Nintendo to handle things differently for each new game release with amiibo figures? Absolutely, especially if people feel like they could get something truly special from buying a pricey amiibo figure to scan. Not every game needs that kind of treatment, but it could still work for the major titles that matter. But in the end, there's almost no winning solution that wouldn't make Nintendo fans upset or cry foul on the company for doing so.

A problem to address eventually

At some point, if they haven't already, Nintendo is going to have to face a problem with amiibo functionality that has continued to linger for a long time. If more games for Nintendo Switch 2 come out to the same response that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond had for its amiibo line, the apprehension towards amiibo will continue to grow. Even Nintendo fans have their limits and could eventually stop supporting it, much like any other fan base that is unhappy with something. How exactly Nintendo can come up with a solution is anyone's guess, but they'll have to figure it out at some point.