Nintendo Switch 2 Price Jumps to $500 This Fall

If you've been on the fence about picking up a Nintendo Switch 2, this is your wake-up call. Nintendo just confirmed a price hike that takes effect on September 1, 2026 — and it's a $50 jump in the US, pushing the console from $449.99 to $499.99.

The increase hits globally, too. Europe is looking at a €30 bump to €499.99, Canada goes up $50 to $679.99, and Japan sees the change even sooner — May 25, with about ¥10,000 added to the base price.

So Why Is This Happening?

Nintendo isn't sugarcoating it. The company points to a perfect storm of supply chain pressures: an ongoing shortage of key components, a weaker Japanese yen making imports more expensive, rising oil prices, and — you guessed it — AI.

The price of RAM has shot up significantly over the past year, largely because AI data centers are gobbling up memory chips at an unprecedented rate. That ripple effect is landing squarely on gaming hardware budgets worldwide.

It's a tough pill to swallow, but Nintendo isn't alone here. Nearly every tech manufacturer has been dealing with the same pressures across 2025 and into 2026.

Nearly 20 Million Units Sold — And Still Going Strong

The price hike lands at a notable milestone: the Switch 2 has sold close to 20 million units since its June 5, 2025 launch. That's an impressive pace by any measure, and it suggests Nintendo has plenty of demand cushion to absorb this adjustment without derailing momentum.

For Nintendo's fiscal year ahead, they're projecting around 16.5 million units — slightly lower, but still a massive number for a console entering its second year.

The Bundle Play: Get Ahead of the Hike

In a smart bit of timing, Nintendo also just announced a $500 Switch 2 bundle that includes a digital game — letting you pick between Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia. At that price point, it's actually the same price the base console will be after September 1, making the bundle the obvious choice if you haven't pulled the trigger yet.

• Mario Kart World — the launch title that sold tens of millions of copies
• Donkey Kong Bananza — a platformer fans have been raving about
• Pokémon Pokopia — the latest entry in Nintendo's biggest franchise

Essentially, Nintendo is giving you a game for free if you buy before the standalone price rise kicks in. That's not nothing.

What Should You Do?

If you were planning to get a Switch 2 eventually, the math is pretty simple: buy it before September 1. The current $449.99 price — or better yet, the $500 bundle with a free game — is the better deal. After September 1, you're paying $500 and getting nothing extra.

For those who already own one, the news is less impactful. Your Switch 2's value just went up a bit in the secondhand market, and Nintendo's continued investment in the platform (a Nintendo Direct is expected in June with more exclusives) means the library keeps growing regardless.

The bottom line: Nintendo's hand was forced by global economic pressures, not corporate greed. It still stings — but if you move fast, you can dodge the hike entirely.