Following price increases for the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, Nintendo has announced a price hike for the upcoming Switch 2. President Shuntaro Furukawa issued an apology to consumers, pledging to deliver games that justify the increased cost and aiming for the console to have a lifespan comparable to the original Switch, which has been active for nine years.
Nintendo confirmed that the Switch 2 will see a price increase in the United States, Europe, and Canada starting September 1st. The console will cost $500 USD in the US, €500 in Europe, and CAD $679.99 in Canada. Similar price adjustments, including a ¥10,000 increase on most Nintendo products, including the original Switch, will take effect in Japan from May 25th.
“We sincerely apologize to our customers for the considerable inconvenience and trouble this will cause. While we wanted to prioritize widespread adoption, it became difficult to absorb the rising costs over a prolonged period,” stated Furukawa regarding the price adjustment.
According to Reuters, Furukawa explained that Nintendo’s decision was based on an assessment of market changes, including the rising cost of RAM, the weakening yen, and increasing oil prices, all of which are expected to persist in the medium to long term. He expressed confidence that despite the higher console price potentially impacting initial sales, a strong and expanding library of Switch 2 games will encourage players to purchase the console.
We will prepare a robust software catalog to increase the value of Switch 2. We will work diligently to overcome this barrier.
The original Nintendo Switch, launched on March 3, 2017, has remained on the market for over nine years. Sony also announced a significant $100 price increase for the PlayStation 5 in March, citing the uncertain global economic landscape.
