- Nintendo announced that the price of the Switch 2 will increase in the US, Canada, Europe and Japan
- It will now cost $499.99, starting September 1, 2026.
- All Switch hardware prices will increase in Japan, including Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions
Nintendo has held firm amid the memory crisis, successfully avoiding price increases for its Switch 2 hardware, but all good things come to an end.
Nintendo announced that it will increase the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 handheld; In the US, the price will increase from $449.99 to $499.99, effective September 1, 2026, in “response to various market conditions.”
A price increase of $50 will also be replicated in Canada, as it will cost $679.99, while Europe will see a €30 increase, also effective on the same date. Unlike other regions, Japan’s price increase will apply to all Switch hardware and take effect on May 25, 2026, with the Switch 2 costing 59,980 yen instead of the previous 49,980 yen.
Japan is easily the most affected country, as Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions will also face price increases, particularly its 12-month family plan, which will go from 4,500 yen to 5,800 yen.
There’s no confirmation on price increases in other European regions, especially the UK, but according to Nintendo Life, Nintendo says these will be shared at a later date.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the RAM crisis is wreaking havoc on PC and console hardware, due to shortages and increased demand from AI data centers. Sony and Microsoft have recently increased the prices of the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles, respectively.
It was only a matter of time before Nintendo followed suit, especially considering the overall economic difficulties. Fortunately, Nintendo has given most consumers (except those in Japan) plenty of time to get over the price increase, which won’t take effect for another four months.
Warning signs have been around through various rumors and suggestions that Nintendo couldn’t help but adjust the MSRP, and there’s a good chance this won’t be the last price increase we see for the Switch 2.
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