Nintendo warns about Switch 2 price increase on console kiosks, contrasting PS5 approach

If the September 1st Switch 2 price increase surprises buyers, it won’t be Nintendo’s fault. The gaming giant is advertising the new MSRP on in-store kiosks. Some supporters appreciate how the company has handled the price hike. Meanwhile, Xbox and PS5 consoles became more expensive with less notice and minimal communication.

Redditor Mushroom0064 shared the new message displayed on console demos at select retailers. The kiosks allow shoppers to try out the latest Switch 2 games with first-party controllers. Gamers are informed that the hardware will soon cost $499.99, up from $449.99. European consumers can also expect to pay more for the handheld.

In a challenging economy, no price increase ultimately benefits gamers. Even so, Reddit posters highlight how Nintendo made its announcement on May 8th, 115 days before it took effect. The exception is Japan, where fans had only a few weeks to prepare for the change.

A PR failure?

By contrast, with the last PS5 price increase on April 2nd, PlayStation only provided 6 days' notice. Xbox was slightly more generous in its late-June bulletin, warning buyers 37 days in advance. In Sony’s case, it also wasn’t as specific about why it was revising inventory.

Although it wasn’t the only factor, Nintendo blamed the memory shortage for the Switch 2 price increase. Tariffs and other manufacturing challenges also influenced its decision. President Shuntaro Furukawa apologized for the move, a tone critics wish Sony’s leadership emulated.

It’s worth noting that the handheld’s cost did not rise as much as seen with Xbox and PS5 consoles. That said, the Mario and Zelda maker continues to transition loyalists from the original Switch. While the PS5 install base is already established, a larger increase would have been damaging for its rival.

Furukawa explained that even at the new MSRP, Nintendo will be absorbing some of the higher component costs. Still, the kiosks encourage shoppers to embrace its ecosystem and purchase profitable Switch 2 games.