Switch 2 price hike to take effect next week even as console sales take a hit in July
Nintendo's Switch 2 console will soon become a more expensive purchase in the US. Starting September 1, 2026, Nintendo will raise the console's official US MSRP from $449.99 to $499.99, marking a $50 increase less than a year and a half after the hardware launched, a move it announced less than a year after its launch.
A contentious price hike?
Nintendo announced the increase in May, citing "various changes in market conditions" that it expects to continue over the medium to long term. The company did not specify which costs drove the increase, but independent reports link the hike directly to memory or component prices.
The increase applies to the standalone base offering of the 256GB Switch 2, which currently sells for $449.99 in the US. From September 1, the same system will carry a $499.99 MSRP before sales tax. Nintendo has not indicated, however,that the original Switch's US pricing will change as part of this revision.
A multi-region price increase
The US is not the only market affected. Nintendo previously announced increases across several regions, with the Switch 2 rising from C$629.99 to C$679.99 in Canada and from €469.99 to €499.99 in Europe. The European price includes VAT, while the US and Canadian figures are listed before applicable taxes.
Japan already received its increase earlier this year. The Japanese-language Switch 2 system went from ¥49,980 to ¥59,980 on May 25, a ¥10,000 increase. Nintendo's multi-language Switch 2 model sold through the My Nintendo Store was excluded from that particular revision.
For American buyers who were already planning to purchase the console, that leaves a simple calculation. Buying before September 1 potentially saves $50 compared with the new MSRP. Retailers can still set their own prices and run promotions, so what consumers pay may differ from Nintendo's suggested price.
New bundles are also on the horizon that could soften the blow for some buyers. Nintendo has announced game-inclusive Switch 2 bundles for the coming months, although these could cost more than $500. The bundles often include first-party exclusive titles and can offer savings compared with buying the items separately.
A troubled industry as prices march upward
At the same time, the broader console market is dealing with higher component costs. Circana data reported by Tom's Hardware shows US console unit sales fell sharply in July, while the average console price increased 16% to $542. That broader pressure does not make the Switch 2's increase any less painful for consumers, but it does put Nintendo's decision in context. The company has already warned investors about challenging hardware economics, while other console manufacturers have also raised prices.
For anyone waiting on the Switch 2, the deadline is now very close. The $449.99 MSRP officially disappears on September 1, at least as Nintendo's recommended US price. After that, $500 becomes the new normal for Nintendo's current-generation hardware.
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