Between tariffs and the memory shortage, it’s believed Nintendo will ultimately raise the price of the Switch 2.
Gaming has never been the cheapest hobby, but it’s only been growing more and more expensive as time goes on. Not only have Sony and Microsoft raised prices of their consoles and services multiple times, but it’s been suggested the PlayStation 6 and next Xbox could cost over £1,000.
Nintendo has also begun charging upwards of £75 for physical copies of some of its first-party games, like Mario Kart World, which prompted quite the online backlash.
So, despite the Nintendo Switch 2 not being even a year old yet, there are concerns it too will see a price hike at some point, with one research firm predicting it will happen at some point this year.
For what it’s worth, the Switch 2 on its own is quite reasonably priced at £395.99, but it also launched with a Mario Kart World bundle for £429.99, which proved very popular since it effectively made the accompanying game half-price.
Altogether, this made the Switch 2 the fastest selling console ever made and it currently sits at over 10 million units sold, enjoying a far stronger first six months than the original Switch did.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
Market research firm Niko Partners, however, says it expects Nintendo to bump the Switch 2’s price worldwide, which it includes in a list of predictions for the games industry in 2026.
‘We believe the Switch 2 is set to follow in Sony and Microsoft’s footsteps with its own price hike driven by the impact from tariffs, increased memory costs, and broader macroeconomic conditions,’ reads the report.
As a reminder, the Switch 2 was formally unveiled the same day as US president Donald Trump’s tariff announcements, which led to Nintendo delaying console pre-orders in the US and a price increase on Switch 2 accessories.
Nintendo has expressed concerns about the impact these tariffs will have on its profits though when Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa was asked about a potential price increase for the Switch 2 by Kyoto Shimbun (as translated by VGC) last week, he chose not to comment.
Don’t miss Gaming news! Add us as a Preferred Source
As a loyal GameCentral reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for gaming stories. We have all the latest video games news, reviews, previews, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.
Click here and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
That said, Furukawa did touch upon the current memory shortage, which is also contributing to rising prices and could even delay the launches of Sony and Microsoft’s new hardware.
‘We procure from suppliers based on our medium to long-term business plans, but the current memory market is very volatile,’ said Furukawa. ‘There is no immediate impact on earnings, but it is something we must monitor closely.’
Niko Partners doesn’t suggest how much more expensive the Switch 2 could become but it theorises that Nintendo could simply stop selling the console standalone and only offer it as part of a bundle for the same price (or higher) as the Mario Kart World one.
On a related note, it’s suspected that Nintendo has plans to launch a new Switch 2 model later this year, possibly a cheaper Switch 2 Lite option.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
This is an interesting prediction about the Nintendo Switch 2. It will be fascinating to see how the price changes and what new features it might offer. The challenges of tariffs and memory shortages certainly add a layer of complexity to the release.
price changes impact consumer interest. Additionally, with advancements in technology, the features and performance improvements could justify a higher price for many gamers, especially if the new model offers enhanced graphics or exclusive titles.
You’re absolutely right about consumer interest being influenced by price changes. It’s worth noting that if the Switch 2 incorporates cutting-edge graphics and enhanced gameplay features, it might justify a higher price point for many gamers. It’ll be interesting to see how Nintendo balances cost and innovation!
that the overall gaming market is also evolving, with new technologies and features that could justify a higher price point. If the Switch 2 offers significant upgrades, it might still attract a loyal fanbase willing to pay a premium for the latest gaming experience.
Absolutely, the gaming market is constantly changing, and it will be interesting to see how Nintendo adapts to these trends. Innovations like cloud gaming and augmented reality could really shape the features of the Switch 2. It might be a game-changer if they integrate some of these advancements!
I agree, the evolving gaming market definitely keeps us on our toes. It will be fascinating to see how Nintendo balances pricing with new features in the Switch 2, especially considering the competition.
how Nintendo adapts to these challenges. With the rise of cloud gaming and subscription services, it’ll be interesting to see if they incorporate any of those features into the Switch 2.