The established pricing for theNintendo Switch 2has been subject to plenty of controversy and confusion, but although it may not be to everyone’s taste, Nintendo has finally provided some clear answers. After attaching a considerable price tag to the console and some first-party games, Nintendo announced adelay on pre-orders in North Americain light of the ongoing and fluctuating threats of significant tariffs. While it seemed unlikely that the price could remain competitive with any significant increase, this did raise fears that things could take a turn for the worse.
At the end of two weeks of relative silence,Nintendo confirmed a new pre-order date of April 24along with anupdated slate of prices. Core releases like the console itself and first-party games haven’t received any adjustments, but minor bumps have increased the tags on many accessories for the system. The announcement also settled some debate over physical prices for first-party games, which had previously lacked clarification in the United States.
Nintendo Switch 2 Console Prices
Two Unchanged Options
As confirmed byNintendo,the price of the Switch 2 itself has remained unchanged since its initial reveal at $449.99. The same goes for theMario Kart Worldconsole bundle, which raises the price to $499.99. While the basic console should be widely available for years to come, theMario Kart Worldbundle will only be available until this autumn.
$449.99
Nintendo Switch 2 +Mario Kart WorldBundle
$499.99
Although the pre-order delay was the result of new tariff announcements,it seems likely that the Switch 2’s $449.99 price was already taking the threatened tariffs into account, so there’s a possibility that the system was once planned to release at $399.99. The Japanese-language-only model is significantly cheaper, with a ¥49,980 price that converts to roughly $350 (the yen exchange rate doesn’t exactly match its domestic value, but there’s still an overall discrepancy).
Considering the tariffs and the price of powerful mobile hardware,it’s unlikely that Nintendo is making any relevant profit on the hardware sales. Nonetheless, it isn’t an easy pill to swallow, and the original Switch had a more attractive price point even when accounting for inflation.
Nintendo Switch 2 Accessory Prices
Price Bumps Across The Board
All the new price increases apply to Nintendo Switch 2 accessories. While none of these are necessary to use the console, many could be essential for taking it on the go or playing with a friend or family member.The majority of items have received $5 price bumps, although the cheapest and most expensive items have, respectively, the smallest and largest changes.
$79.99
$84.99
$89.99
$94.99
$34.99
$39.99
$12.99
$13.99
$19.99
$24.99
$49.99
$54.99
$109.99
$119.99
$29.99
Samsung microSD Express Card – 256GB for Nintendo Switch™ 2
$59.99
The Switch 2 featuresbackward compatibility with original Switch Joy-Cons, so despite some missing features,anyone with an original Switch can continue to use classic Joy-Cons for a second player. A modest increase in size, however, means that it won’t fit in original Switch carrying cases unless they had a good deal of wiggle room.
Nintendo Switch 2 Game Prices
The Same Across Digital & Physical
While third-party game prices will be determined by individual manufacturers, Nintendo also clarified thatthe prices ofMario Kart WorldandDonkey Kong Bananzawill remain the same. Although they aren’t mentioned, prices for upgraded Switch 2 editions of original Switch games should presumably also be unchanged. For major titles likeBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, upgrades will cost $10 standalone, raising the prices of Switch 2 edition copies by the same amount.Kirby and the Forgotten Landreceived a more significant $20 bump thanks to the addition of a new expansion.
Donkey Kong Bananza
$69.99
Notably,Nintendo’s announcement describes this as “pricing for both physical and digital versions,“settling some debate over whether the established MSRPs applied to physical copies. No one will likely be excited about paying $79.99 forMario Kart World, but it’s certainly better than paying $89.99 for a physical copy like some had feared. On the opposite end of the equation,Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remasterwill hopefully still be available for the announced $39.99 MSRP, which matches its original 3DS price.
As with all systems, discounts will likely become available over time to get many of these products for reduced prices. Considering the current instability surrounding major economic decisions, however, it’s difficult to guarantee, and the system itself will presumably be maintaining its price point for the foreseeable future. TheNintendo Switch 2isn’t an investment to take lightly, but it’s at least helpful to have some clarity regarding just how expensive that investment will be.
Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to Nintendo Switch, scheduled for release in 2025. Confirmed as backwards compatible, it will play both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. A full reveal is pencilled in for June 18, 2025.
