It’s official: Switch 2 consoles are going to become $50 more expensive as of September. Even with the price hike, Nintendo says the new MSRP still won’t cover all the costs involved in producing a Switch 2.
“This change in hardware pricing was not due to any one specific factor,” Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said during the company’s recent financial results presentation. “Rather, the decision was made in light of various changes in the recent market conditions which we believe will have a medium- to long-term impact on the global outlook of our dedicated video game platform business. Unfortunately, the recent surge in memory and other component prices, and the changes in the market environment, including trends in the foreign exchange market and the price of oil, are all factors that we anticipate will continue over the medium to long term.”
Like almost all hardware in 2026, Nintendo is facing a perfect storm of conditions that has forced its hand. The ongoing shortage of crucial components, a weaker yen, and rising oil prices have all contributed toward making tech more expensive. Furukawa added that the higher price may create an additional barrier to entry, but Nintendo is confident that “engaging fun” will help enhance the Switch 2 ownership value for consumers. Once September arrives, a Switch 2 will increase from $450 to $500 in the US.
“While uncertainties remain regarding future trends in component prices, we recognize that they could have an impact not only this year but next year as well,” Furukawa explained. “As for what comes after that, we will make necessary preparations to ensure that we can respond flexibly to whatever situation arises.”
Of the new games on the way, several of them are scheduled to launch in the next few months: Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Starfox, and Splatoon Raiders. Nintendo isn’t the only gaming company facing turbulent economic storms, as Sony recently increased the price of all PS5 models by $100, while the PS5 Pro increased by a whopping $150.
Xbox Series X|S console prices were also hiked last year, and there’s a growing concern that gaming is becoming the domain of a smaller, richer consumer base.
