The Nintendo Switch 2 For now it won't be more expensive due to rising RAM costs, but Nintendo is monitoring the situation closely. Pricing has been a controversial topic for the console, with fears of tariff-induced price increases surrounding its release and many gamers criticizing the cost of its games, game upgrades, and accessories. Thankfully, it looks like the Nintendo Switch 2 will remain unaffected by broader market changes for now, but that doesn't mean future growth is off the table.
Since RAM costs start skyrocketing towards the end of 2025, there has been a lot of talk about rising prices. As chipmakers like Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix began to put more memory into AI data centers and less into the gaming space, RAM, SSD, and other component prices slowly shot through the roof. While the shortage has primarily affected PC gamers, there's talk that Xbox and Sony could delay their next-gen consoles because of it, and now Nintendo has offered some clarity on how it's all coming together.
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Nintendo president says Switch 2 is safe from rising RAM costs for now
In an interview with the Kyoto Shimbun, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa admitted that the current RAM market is “volatile” but that it “doesn't have an immediate impact on earnings,” so the Switch 2 will remain the same price for now. While Nintendo feared that higher RAM costs could be passed on to Switch 2 buyers, the company has avoided it for now due to its supply chain strategy. Furukawa explained that Nintendo orders parts and materials based on its medium-to-long-term projections, so it already has enough RAM to weather the current storm. However, the President was also cautious that things could change in the future.
Furukawa noted that Nintendo is closely monitoring the memory market due to current volatility. While he didn't comment on whether the Switch 2 would become more expensive if costs reached a certain point, it's safe to say the company would at least consider it if it thought RAM prices would get too high or stay expensive for too long. Its current safety stocks will eventually run out, and when they do, history suggests a rise may be in order. In fall 2025, Nintendo raised the price of the original Switch, citing market conditions, which proves that. was killed Manufacturers aren't shy about bumping things up when the economy is tough.
Current signs don't look promising for anyone hoping to buy a Switch 2 in the future. While there may not be a price increase for now, it appears that the memory crisis could continue for some time, increasing the risk of Nintendo's safety stocks running low. During its last earnings call, Micron said it expects RAM shortages to persist beyond 2026, as it will take time for production to catch up with rising demand. If the market remains tight for too long, it could prompt Nintendo to re-strategize and increase Switch 2 costs to account for higher production costs, although it has avoided this in the short term.
RAM-related expenses may not be the only major financial factor affecting Nintendo hardware down the line. Furukawa said the company is still looking at tariffs and how they can make things more expensive. Unfortunately for consumers, he also said that Nintendo's policy is to “recognize tariffs as a cost and pass them on to prices where possible,” meaning the higher costs on Nintendo's end will almost certainly be passed on to buyers. Notably, Nintendo raised some Switch 2 accessory prices before the console's release in the US due to tariffs, so a raise on the system itself is never out of the question.
- 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
Source: Kyoto Shimbun
