Switch 2 Set to Launch with a Price Tag of $500 This Year

Following the latest financial results, Nintendo has announced a price hike for the Switch 2, set to take effect on September 1. Starting on that date, the Switch 2 will rise to $450, marking a 12.5 percent increase for a console that’s still under a year old.

Earlier this week, rumors about a potential price increase for the new Switch model began circulating, fueled by investor pressure on Nintendo to boost profits after share prices failed to reflect the successful launch of the Switch 2. It was accurately predicted that the earnings report would coincide with this price adjustment, driven by shareholder concerns that have seen the company’s stock struggle for the past five months.

Nintendo’s official announcement revealed that the price of the Switch 2 will increase globally, jumping from ¥49,980 to ¥59,980 in Japan this month, and from $630 to $680 in Canada, as well as from €470 to €500 in Europe. The U.S. price increase from $400 to $450 stands out as the steepest outside Japan, more than doubling the rise seen in Europe.

The company cited typical reasons for these adjustments, such as tariffs and hardware shortages, stating that “the impact of various changes in market conditions is expected to extend over the medium to long term.”

Japan is facing the brunt of these changes, with a 20 percent increase for the Switch 2, alongside significant price hikes for the original Switch, the OLED model, and the Switch Lite, which are seeing increases of 33 percent, 26 percent, and 36 percent, respectively. Currently, there are no plans to raise prices on older Switch models in other countries.

Additionally, Japan and Korea will experience a 25 percent increase in the price of Nintendo Switch Online starting July 1, but there are no immediate plans for similar changes outside of Japan.

Nintendo concluded its announcement with an apology:

“We sincerely apologize for the impact these price revisions may have on our customers and other stakeholders, and we deeply appreciate your understanding.”

These are indeed unprecedented times, as both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series have also seen significant price increases since their launches in 2020. Nintendo now joins the trend, and the speed of this adjustment is particularly surprising given that the Switch 2 was only released in June 2025, at what was already considered a high price for a Nintendo console. Fortunately, customers worldwide have a few months to purchase a Switch 2 before the price goes up.