{"id":3792,"date":"2026-05-13T16:06:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T13:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/?p=3792"},"modified":"2026-05-13T16:07:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T13:07:22","slug":"nintendo-switch-2-price-increase-new-bundle-details","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/nintendo-switch-2-price-increase-new-bundle-details\/","title":{"rendered":"Nintendo Switch 2 Hits $500: New Bundle, Price Hike Timeline, and What Gamers Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Nintendo is raising the Switch 2’s price by $50 to $499.99 starting September 1, 2026. A new Choose Your Game bundle launching in June offers a free game to soften the blow.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Nintendo has officially confirmed a $50 price increase for the Switch 2, raising the console from $449.99 to $499.99 in the United States effective September 1, 2026. The announcement came alongside the company’s fiscal year 2026 earnings report, which revealed 19.86 million Switch 2 units shipped across just three quarters, generating \u00a52.3 trillion (roughly $14.7 billion) in annual revenue. Despite that record-breaking performance, rising memory costs and shifting market conditions have forced Nintendo’s first hardware price adjustment since the console launched in June 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regional Price Breakdown: US, Europe, Canada, and Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The price hike is a global move affecting every major market. In Europe, the Switch 2 will rise by \u20ac30 from \u20ac469.99 to \u20ac499.99. In Canada, the console goes from CA$629.99 to CA$679.99. All three regions share the same September 1, 2026 effective date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan faces an earlier and steeper adjustment. Starting May 25, 2026, the Japan-only region-locked Switch 2 will jump from \u00a549,980 to \u00a559,980, a 20% increase. Original Switch hardware is not spared either: the Switch OLED climbs to \u00a547,980, the standard Switch to \u00a543,980, and the Switch Lite to \u00a529,980. Nintendo Switch Online subscription prices in Japan will also increase from July 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Region<\/th>Current Price<\/th>New Price<\/th>Increase<\/th>Effective Date<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
United States<\/td>$449.99<\/td>$499.99<\/td>+$50<\/td>September 1, 2026<\/td><\/tr>
Europe<\/td>\u20ac469.99<\/td>\u20ac499.99<\/td>+\u20ac30<\/td>September 1, 2026<\/td><\/tr>
Canada<\/td>CA$629.99<\/td>CA$679.99<\/td>+CA$50<\/td>September 1, 2026<\/td><\/tr>
Japan (Region-Locked)<\/td>\u00a549,980<\/td>\u00a559,980<\/td>+\u00a510,000<\/td>May 25, 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nintendo noted that price revisions for additional regions will be announced by local subsidiaries. The multilingual Switch 2 model sold via My Nintendo Store in Japan will not change price for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Choose Your Game Bundle: A Pre-Hike Sweetener<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To soften the impact, Nintendo has announced the “Switch 2: Choose Your Game Bundle,” launching at participating North American retailers in early June. Priced at $499.99, the bundle includes a Switch 2 console and a download code for one of three major titles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Mario Kart World<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Donkey Kong Bananza<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Pok\u00e9mon Pokopia<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    According to Nintendo’s official announcement, the bundle offers up to $29.99 in savings compared to purchasing the system and game separately. The catch is timing: this bundle will only be available for a limited period while supplies last. After September 1, the $499.99 price tag buys the console alone with no game included. Anyone planning a Switch 2 purchase this summer would benefit from either buying at the current $449.99 standalone price or grabbing this bundle before the window closes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why Is Nintendo Raising Prices? The Global Memory Crisis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Switch 2 uses 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and the cost of that component has surged dramatically. A global memory shortage that began in late 2025 is the primary driver. AI data centres have created enormous demand for DRAM and NAND flash, with companies like OpenAI reportedly consuming approximately 40% of global DRAM supply. Major manufacturers like SK Hynix and Samsung have redirected production capacity toward HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) for AI accelerators, squeezing supply for consumer electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The numbers are staggering. A 32 GB DDR5-6000 kit that cost around $80 in mid-2025 reached roughly $432 by early 2026, a 440% increase. DRAM prices rose 41% in a single quarter for Switch 2-grade chips. While the pace of increases slowed somewhat in March and April 2026, SK Group’s chairman has warned that the memory shortage could last until 2030, with wafer supply trailing demand by approximately 20%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Nintendo flagged roughly \u00a5100 billion ($640 million) in additional costs tied to rising component prices and tariff measures in its fiscal year 2027 forecast. The company described these as medium-to-long-term pressures, strongly suggesting the price increase is permanent rather than temporary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How Does This Compare to Sony and Microsoft?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Nintendo’s $50 increase is relatively modest compared to what Sony has done. On April 2, 2026, Sony raised PlayStation 5 prices by $100 across the board. The standard PS5 disc edition now costs $649.99, the PS5 Digital Edition is $599.99, and the PS5 Pro reaches a striking $899.99. In Europe, the PS5 Pro sits at \u20ac899.99 and in the UK at \u00a3789.99. The cheapest PS5 has now swollen by 50% since the platform launched in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Microsoft has made similar pricing adjustments to its Xbox Series X and S consoles. Valve has delayed the launch of its Steam Machine console entirely, citing the memory shortage as a factor. The entire console industry is dealing with the same structural pressure: AI-driven demand is cannibalising memory supply that consumer hardware depends on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Console<\/th>Previous Price (US)<\/th>New Price (US)<\/th>Increase<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Nintendo Switch 2<\/td>$449.99<\/td>$499.99<\/td>+$50<\/td><\/tr>
    PS5 (Disc)<\/td>$549.99<\/td>$649.99<\/td>+$100<\/td><\/tr>
    PS5 Pro<\/td>$749.99<\/td>$899.99<\/td>+$150<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    In that context, Nintendo’s price adjustment is the smallest among the three major console manufacturers. The company’s consumer base skews younger and more price-sensitive than PlayStation’s, however, making the psychological shift to a $500 console potentially more impactful for its core audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Switch 2 Sales Performance: Record Numbers Despite Headwinds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The price increase comes off the back of one of the strongest console launches in Nintendo’s history. In its first fiscal year (three quarters of sales), the Switch 2 shipped 19.86 million units, significantly exceeding internal projections. Full-year revenue hit \u00a52.3 trillion, up 98.6% year-over-year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Software results were equally impressive. Mario Kart World moved 14.7 million copies, Pok\u00e9mon Legends: Z-A reached 8.5 million, and Donkey Kong Bananza sold 4.5 million. Combined Switch and Switch 2 software sales totalled 185.62 million units, compared to 155.41 million Switch-only units in the prior fiscal year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For the next full fiscal year, Nintendo is forecasting 16.5 million Switch 2 units sold. That figure falls below the 20 million-plus that analysts expected, but the conservative outlook appears deliberate. Nintendo significantly underestimated its own performance in the year just concluded and seems to be managing expectations more carefully heading into a period of higher costs and pricing uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Should You Buy Before September 1?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Nintendo gave nearly four months of notice, which is unusually generous by industry standards. The practical question for anyone considering a Switch 2 is straightforward: buying before September 1 saves $50, and buying the Choose Your Game bundle effectively gets you a free game at today’s prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After the deadline, $499.99 buys the hardware alone. Given that Nintendo described the market conditions driving this increase as “medium to long term,” a price reduction in the near future is unlikely. If a Switch 2 is on your radar within the next year, the summer window offers the best value proposition currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Gamers Are Asking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Is the Choose Your Game bundle available in Europe?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Nintendo’s announcement specifically mentions participating retailers in North America. There has been no official confirmation of the same bundle for European markets. European buyers can still purchase the Switch 2 at the current \u20ac469.99 price before September 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Will the price increase be reversed if memory costs drop?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Almost certainly not in the short term. Nintendo explicitly stated the price revision responds to changes expected to persist over the “medium to long term.” Industry forecasts project the memory shortage continuing through at least 2028 to 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Are original Switch consoles also getting more expensive?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In Japan, yes. All three original Switch models are seeing price increases effective May 25. In the US and Europe, original Switch hardware already received roughly 15% price increases in August 2025, and no further changes have been announced for those regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How does the Switch 2 at $500 compare to competitors?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    At $499.99, the Switch 2 remains the most affordable current-generation console. The cheapest PS5 now starts at $599.99 (Digital Edition), and the standard disc version costs $649.99. The Switch 2’s hybrid portable and home console design continues to offer a distinct value proposition, though the gap has narrowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Is Nintendo Switch Online going up in price too?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In Japan, yes. NSO subscription prices are increasing from July 1, 2026. No price changes have been announced for NSO in other regions yet, though Nintendo has not ruled out future adjustments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The September 1 deadline marks a new pricing era for the Switch 2, but the four-month warning window and the Choose Your Game bundle give buyers meaningful time and options. With the global memory shortage showing no signs of resolution before 2028 at the earliest, hardware prices across the entire gaming industry are likely to remain elevated. For Switch 2 buyers, acting before September remains the clearest path to getting the most value.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Nintendo is raising the Switch 2’s price by $50 to $499.99 starting September 1, 2026. A new Choose Your Game bundle launching in June offers a free game to soften the blow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3793,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[322],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3792"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3792\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3794,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3792\/revisions\/3794"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}