Nintendo Switch 2 Is Getting Pricier — $500 Starting September

The Switch 2 Is Getting More Expensive

Nintendo dropped some unwelcome news this week: the Nintendo Switch 2 will see a price increase starting September 1, 2026. In the US, the console jumps from $449.99 to $499.99 — a $50 bump that puts it firmly into the $500 territory.

And it is not just the US. Canada, Europe, and Japan are all getting hit with similar adjustments. In Japan the price goes up to 59,980 yen from 49,980 yen, effective May 25. European gamers will pay 499.99 euros, up from 469.99 euros, alongside the US rise in the fall. Canada climbs to $679.99 CAD from $629.99.

Why Is Nintendo Doing This?

Nintendo cited "various changes in market conditions" expected to continue over the medium to long term. Translation: rising memory and storage costs are squeezing margins across the entire gaming and tech sector, and Nintendo is passing some of that cost on to consumers.

It is a frustrating but not entirely shocking move. Memory chip prices have been climbing industry-wide, and Nintendo managed to absorb those costs longer than most expected. The Switch 2 launched at $449.99 and has already sold nearly 20 million units — so clearly consumers were willing to pay the original price.

What Is Actually Changing?

• US: $449.99 → $499.99, effective September 1, 2026
• Japan: 49,980 yen → 59,980 yen, effective May 25, 2026
• Canada: $629.99 → $679.99 CAD, effective fall 2026
• Europe: 469.99 → 499.99 euros, effective fall 2026

One silver lining: the Nintendo Switch 2 Multi-Language System sold through My Nintendo Store will keep its current price. So if you are hunting for a way to dodge the hike, that might be your window.

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers in Japan are also getting price increases, though global subscribers have not been given the same news — yet.

Should You Buy One Before September?

If you have been sitting on the fence about picking up a Switch 2, this announcement makes the case for buying sooner rather than later. Between now and September 1, you can still grab one at $449.99 in the US.

The lineup of games coming to Switch 2 in 2026 is looking solid — Subnautica 2 hits early access on May 14, Forza Horizon 6 drops May 19, and the holiday slate is shaping up nicely. There is never really a wrong time to pick up Nintendo hardware, but there is apparently a more expensive time, and that is coming in September.

The Bottom Line

This is genuinely disappointing news for anyone who has not grabbed a Switch 2 yet. A $500 price point is a psychological threshold that matters to a lot of buyers — it moves the console from "a little expensive" to "flagship tier" pricing. Nintendo has moved nearly 20 million units at the old price. Whether $500 puts a dent in that momentum heading into the holidays is the big question to watch.