Nintendo has managed to keep the Switch 2’s price rock steady since launch, even as the rest of the gaming industry faces rising costs. However, that might not last much longer. According to a former Nintendo sales lead, a price increase for the Switch 2 is likely unavoidable. We’ve seen Switch 2 price hike rumors for a while now, despite Nintendo previously dismissing the idea.

The former employee, only referred to by his first name (Sean), shared his thoughts during the Nintendo-focused Kit & Krysta podcast, where he explained that current economic conditions are putting pressure on hardware pricing across the entire industry. He believes that while Nintendo has managed to hold its pricing so far, it won’t be able to do so forever. Rising costs are building up, and eventually, they will have to be passed on to consumers.

Why might the Nintendo Switch 2 get a price rise?

“Yes, unfortunately I think eventually the hardware price is going to have to go up […] Even if they are able to make concessions in some areas, hardware prices are going to go up, I think eventually. […] They may be able to put off raising hardware prices for a moment, but I think it’s inevitable that they’re going to go up.”

Sean, via Kit & Krysta Podcast EP216

A big reason behind this is the ongoing memory crisis. The demand for components like RAM and storage has increased heavily, especially due to the rapid growth of AI technologies. This has pushed prices up across the board. On top of that, tariffs, inflation, and global supply chain issues are making it more expensive to manufacture and ship hardware. Even factors like rising oil prices are playing a role, as they increase transportation costs and affect materials used in semiconductor production.

We are already seeing the impact of these issues across the market. Sony recently announced price increases for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal. This shows that even major companies are struggling to keep prices stable in the current environment.

Nintendo, on the other hand, seems to be trying different ways to delay a price hike. One approach mentioned is offering digital games at lower prices compared to physical copies. This could help soften the impact if hardware prices eventually go up. Still, this is only a temporary solution, as the core issue lies in rising production costs.

You may have also heard that the Nintendo Switch 2 is considerably cheaper in Japan, and that’s true. A special retail model, which is region-locked and restricted to the Japanese language, launched for just ¥49,980 (approx. $330 – $340 USD), while the multi-language model costs ¥69,980 (approx. $450 – $470 USD) in the region. Sean says he “can envision a scenario” where this split is phased out to help recover costs in the region, but points out that Nintendo “don’t ever rush into things quickly”.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.