Console makers have raised the prices of their products due to investments in AI data centers and skyrocketing hardware prices due to the 2026 Iran war. However, Nintendo has openly stated that it will not increase the price of the Switch 2 by mass producing the console.
However, since things are so unpredictable, Nintendo can't be sure that its strategy will work. One of the company's former sales chiefs thinks Nintendo won't be able to sustain this rate, especially given the growing demand for the Switch 2. They predict that a price increase for the Switch 2 is “inevitable.”
Nintendo has no choice but to raise Switch 2 prices
Speaking on the Kit and Krista podcast, the former sales lead, who goes by Sean, says Nintendo won't be able to last much longer, especially when faced with such volatile economic conditions (thanks, GamesRadar). They believe it's only a matter of time until Nintendo faces a price hike.
“Unfortunately, I think eventually hardware prices will have to go up,” he said, adding that the Trump administration's tariffs only add to the uncertainty. “We've seen inflation being a problem for a while. Tariffs are a recent nuisance, but they're not going away anytime soon. Memory prices are driving up AI-driven demand for chips, and in the past few weeks, we've had issues with oil prices going through the roof.”
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While the war itself may seem like a disconnect from the console's manufacturing process, rising oil prices mean shipping costs will increase. A growing number of world issues have undoubtedly strained the company's decision to keep prices low, but there's only so much it's ready for.
Sean concluded, “They may be able to stop raising hardware prices for a moment, but I think it's inevitable that they're going to go up.”
- brand
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Nintendo
- Original release date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- operating system
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Ownership
- resolve
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1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR support
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yes
