Have you ever thought about the possibility of paying more for a Switch 2? With the current tariffs and memory shortage, there is speculation that Nintendo may have to raise the price of their highly sought-after console. Gaming has always been an expensive hobby, but it seems to be getting even pricier with each passing year. Both Sony and Microsoft have raised the prices of their consoles and services multiple times, and there are even rumors that the PlayStation 6 and next Xbox could cost over £1,000.
Even Nintendo has joined in on the trend, charging upwards of £75 for physical copies of their first-party games. This caused quite a stir among fans, especially when Mario Kart World was priced at such a high amount. Despite the Nintendo Switch 2 being less than a year old, there are concerns that it too will see a price increase in the near future. In fact, a research firm has predicted that it could happen as early as this year.
Currently, the Switch 2 is priced at a reasonable £395.99, but it was also released with a bundle including Mario Kart World for £429.99. This proved to be a popular choice among consumers, as it effectively made the game half-price. As a result, the Switch 2 became the fastest selling console ever made, with over 10 million units sold in just six months. This is a much stronger start than the original Switch had.
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According to market research firm Niko Partners, they expect Nintendo to increase the price of the Switch 2 globally. This prediction was included in their list for the games industry in 2026. The report states, "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."
It's interesting to note that the Switch 2 was unveiled on the same day that US President Donald Trump announced tariffs, which caused Nintendo to delay console pre-orders in the US and increase prices for Switch 2 accessories. Nintendo has expressed concerns about the impact these tariffs may have on their profits. However, when asked about a potential price increase for the Switch 2 last week, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa chose not to comment.
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Furukawa did touch upon the current memory shortage, which is also contributing to rising prices. This shortage 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 did not suggest how much the price of the Switch 2 could potentially increase, but they theorize that Nintendo may stop selling the console as a standalone option and only offer it as part of a bundle for the same price as the Mario Kart World one. On a related note, there are rumors that Nintendo plans to release a new Switch 2 model later this year, possibly a cheaper Switch 2 Lite option. The original Switch Lite is a handheld-only option.
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