Hey there Legend! Just to bring to your notice that some links and ad banners on this page are affiliates which means that, if you choose to make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We greatly appreciate your support!
Nintendo Switch 2 Faces Predicted $50 Global Price Increase in 2026 Due to Tariffs and Rising Memory Costs
January 21, 2026Niko Partners forecasts that Nintendo will raise the global price of the Switch 2 console in 2026, forced by rising tariffs, increased RAM and storage costs, and challenging economic conditions. The firm anticipates Nintendo may discontinue the current $449 model and offer only a $499 or higher SKU after holding launch prices steady in 2025.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to see its first global price increase in 2026, according to a detailed market prediction by industry research firm Niko Partners. Citing ‘the impact from tariffs, increased memory costs, and broader macroeconomic conditions,’ Niko Partners states, ‘We believe the Switch 2 is set to follow in Sony and Microsoft’s footsteps with its own price hike.’ Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X saw price increases in 2025, and Nintendo’s next-gen hardware appears poised to do the same as costs rise across the supply chain.
Specific Price Predictions and Market Factors
According to Niko Partners‘ 2026 video game business outlook, the Nintendo Switch 2 currently holds a competitive entry price of $449 USD, resisting 2025’s pressures from new tariffs impacting production in China, Japan, and Vietnam. The research firm reports, ‘Nintendo chose to maintain its $449 entry price last year despite the introduction of tariffs impacting production in China, Japan and Vietnam. More recently, increased demand for AI data centres has pushed RAM and storage prices up.’
While Nintendo has refrained from raising the base price at launch, Niko Partners adds: ‘While we do anticipate Nintendo to increase the price of the Switch 2, they may opt to discontinue the $449 SKU and only sell a $499 or higher bundle SKU instead.’ This would mark a minimum $50 increase in the global retail price of Nintendo’s flagship console within a year of launch, echoing previous strategic adjustments made by Sony and Microsoft in response to economic instability and raw material inflation.
Forecasted Switch 2 Price Changes:
- Switch 2 Base Model: Potential discontinuation of the $449 version in favour of the $499 or higher bundle
- Drivers: Tariffs (China, Vietnam, Japan factories), RAM and storage cost surges, global economic instability
- Following: Price hikes by PS5 and Xbox Series X in the previous year
Nintendo’s Official Comments on Price and Profit Margin
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed the company’s awareness of ongoing cost issues. Addressing industry concerns in an interview with Kyoto Shimbun, Furukawa stated, ‘We procure [RAM] from suppliers based on our medium- to long-term business plans, but the current memory market is very volatile. There is no immediate impact on earnings, but it is something we must monitor closely.’ When asked whether these factors could require raising hardware prices, Furukawa responded that it was hypothetical and declined to comment further.
Nintendo has previously demonstrated its willingness to adjust hardware pricing in response to market conditions. In August 2025, Nintendo raised the price of the original Switch, increasing US MSRPs as follows:
- Original Switch: $339 (was $299)
- Switch OLED: $399 (was $349)
- Switch Lite: $229 (was $199)
This price revision, justified by ‘market conditions,’ followed an earlier statement from Nintendo: ‘Nintendo Switch 2 accessories will experience price adjustments from those announced on April 2 due to changes in market conditions. Other adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are also possible in the future, depending on market conditions.’
In the lead-up to Switch 2’s 2025 US launch, Nintendo notably delayed North American pre-orders, citing economic uncertainty, but ultimately held the $449 launch price for the base console, using accessory price adjustments instead.
Competitor Movements and Broader Economic Context
Both Sony and Microsoft increased prices for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles in 2025. This repositioned Nintendo’s Switch 2 as the most affordable current-generation console at its $449 entry SKU. With memory prices and production tariffs still rising globally, Niko Partners predicts Nintendo will ‘follow in Sony and Microsoft’s footsteps’ by adopting a higher retail price strategy in 2026.
Nintendo’s focus on Switch 2 production and its ongoing monitoring of procurement costs point towards a tightrope between maintaining accessibility and protecting profit margins. The company’s recent patterns suggest price increases for both hardware and accessories remain on the table as market conditions evolve.
Key Takeaways for 2026:
- Research firm Niko Partners expects a Switch 2 global price increase, likely shifting from $449 to $499 or more
- Tariffs, volatile RAM and storage pricing, and economic pressures are driving factors
- Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed ongoing vigilance regarding the memory market and profitability
- Switch 2 remains competitively priced but may follow PlayStation and Xbox in raising retail costs in 2026
Share this:
While games are fun, it’s highly important to note that there’s more to life than sitting countless hours playing video games – there’s a purpose and more to life; seek out that purpose more often!
