- Nintendo announced that the Switch 2’s price will increase in the US, Canada, Europe and Japan
- It will now cost $499.99, effective September 1, 2026
- All Switch hardware prices will increase in Japan, including Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions
Nintendo has held strong amid the memory crisis, successfully avoiding price increases for its Switch 2 hardware – but all good things come to an end.
Nintendo announced that it will raise the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 handheld; in the US, the price will increase from $449.99 to $499.99, effective September 1, 2026, as a ‘response to various market conditions’.
A $50 price increase will also be replicated in Canada as it costs $679.99, while Europe will see a €30 increase, also effective from the same date. Unlike other regions, Japan’s price increase will apply to all Switch hardware effective May 25, 2026, with the Switch 2 costing 59,980 yen instead of the previous 49,980 yen.
Japan is easily the most affected, as the Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions will also face price increases, especially for its 12-month family plan, which will increase from ¥4,500 to ¥5,800.
There is no confirmation of price increases in other European regions, particularly the UK, but according to Nintendo Life, Nintendo states that they will be shared at a later date.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise as the RAM crisis is wreaking havoc across PC and console hardware due to shortages and increased demand from AI data centers. Sony and Microsoft have recently raised the prices of PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles respectively.
It was only a matter of time for Nintendo to follow suit, especially given the general financial struggles. Fortunately, though, Nintendo has given most consumers (except those in Japan) plenty of time to beat the price hike, which won’t take effect until four months from now.
The warning signs have been around via several rumors and suggestions that Nintendo wouldn’t be able to avoid adjusting the MSRP, and there’s a decent chance that this won’t be the last price hike we see for the Switch 2.
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