The dreaded Nintendo Switch 2 price hike is here

Zachary Roberts Published 13/05/2026

If there were complaints about the Nintendo Switch 2 pricing when it launched, things are about to get a whole lot louder. Nintendo has officially announced an incoming price hike for its latest console. However, prospective players still have the chance to get it at the old cost for a little while longer.

Nintendo Switch 2 price to rise in September

From now until September 1, the Nintendo Switch 2 is going to be available brand-new for $450 in the United States ($630 in Canada and €470 in Europe). That’s the price it launched at almost a year ago.

But on September 1, the prices will go up. In the United States, it will cost $500. This is the same price as the Mario Kart World bundle right now. It will go up to $680 in Canada and €500 in Europe.

Stealth40k on X

There were plenty of complaints about the Nintendo Switch 2’s original price. However, when accounting for inflation, the pricing was fairer. The console is significantly more powerful than its predecessor (Donkey Kong Bananza would make an original Switch explode).

That’s a huge upgrade. For it, the cost increase from the original to the Switch 2 was only about $50 ($300 in 2017 is equivalent to $404 now). A price hike is never good, but the complaints about its cost back then feel a little more hollow now.

Nintendo said in a release that this is due to “changes in market conditions”.

“Given that the impact of various changes in market conditions is expected to extend over the medium to long term, price revisions are also planned outside Japan,” the company said.

Nintendo didn’t make this part clear. However, it’s likely that the RAM shortage and the memory crisis right now are also impacting this.

So, Nintendo has to pay more for RAM to make the Switch (which also recently underwent a price hike after almost a decade) and Switch 2. Therefore, it is wholly unsurprising that the price is going up. Because of this, sales demand could slow down after the price increase takes effect.

Feature image credit: Nintendo

Zachary Roberts

About Zachary Roberts

Zachary Roberts is an avid gamer and writer that loves to merge those things. He’s been featured on VideoGamer, ComicBook, New Leaf, Esports.net, and Sportskeeda as well as the On SI network of Sports Illustrated and Sporting News.

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