Nintendo Raises Switch 2 Price: $499.99 in US From September 1, Japan Hike Lands May 25

Nintendo confirms Switch 2 price hike: what’s changing and when

Nintendo has officially announced it will raise the MSRP of its Switch 2 console across multiple regions in 2026. In the United States, the price moves from $449.99 to $499.99 on September 1; Canada and Europe see similar increases on the same date. In Japan, the Japan‑only Switch 2 model climbs by ¥10,000 to ¥59,980 earlier, on May 25. Nintendo cited “changes in market conditions” and its global outlook in a May 8 news release that also detailed related adjustments to legacy Switch hardware and Nintendo Switch Online pricing in select markets. (nintendo.co.jp )

The new prices at a glance

• United States: Switch 2 MSRP rises from $449.99 to $499.99, effective September 1, 2026.
• Canada: Switch 2 increases from C$629.99 to C$679.99, effective September 1, 2026.
• Europe (My Nintendo Store): Switch 2 moves from €469.99 to €499.99, effective September 1, 2026.
• Japan: Japan‑only Switch 2 model goes from ¥49,980 to ¥59,980, effective May 25, 2026.

These figures and dates come directly from Nintendo’s May 8, 2026 price‑revision notice. (nintendo.co.jp )

Why now? Memory costs, tariffs and investor pressure

Nintendo’s statement does not single out a single cause, but the company and market watchers have been flagging two major pressures throughout 2026: sharply higher memory prices and the impact of tariffs on hardware made in or shipped through key manufacturing hubs. A Reuters report summarized Nintendo’s forecast for the current fiscal year as absorbing roughly ¥100 billion (about $638 million) in higher component costs—especially memory—and in tariff measures. (wkzo.com )

Separately, Bloomberg has chronicled how the AI hardware boom has tightened global supply and driven up prices for NAND and DRAM, squeezing console makers’ margins. Those conditions have loomed over Switch 2 since launch and help explain why a mid‑cycle increase became more likely. (bloomberg.com )

Investor pressure also played a role. In the days leading up to Nintendo’s May 8 earnings, coverage highlighted calls from some shareholders to lift Switch 2’s price to protect profitability—momentum that set the stage for the formal adjustment. (bloomberg.com )

Japan moves first—and more than just hardware is affected

Japan’s price change arrives first, on May 25, and extends beyond Switch 2 to legacy Switch models. Nintendo also outlined revisions to Nintendo Switch Online pricing in Japan (and planned alignment in South Korea), effective July 1, underscoring that the company is recalibrating across its ecosystem to reflect sustained cost pressures. (nintendo.co.jp )

Major wire coverage the same day emphasized that the Switch 2’s Japanese MSRP rises to ¥59,980 as part of broader guidance that anticipates slimmer profits despite strong software demand. (apnews.com )

What it means for players in the US, Canada and Europe

For buyers in North America and Europe, the key date is September 1, 2026. If you’ve been eyeing a Switch 2, the window through the summer is the last chance to secure the current MSRP at official outlets. Expect retailers to message “beat the price rise” promotions and to tighten discounting on hardware bundles as the deadline approaches. After September 1, we may see temporary promos around the holidays—but those will be measured against the new, higher base.

Practical tips for prospective buyers:

• If you plan to buy a Switch 2 in 2026, consider doing so before September 1 in the US/Canada/Europe to avoid the $50/€30/C$50 bump.
• Watch official refurb or trade‑in programs that can offset the increase; those typically ramp up in late summer.
• Budget for accessories and storage: memory‑related accessories have seen their own price volatility amid the chip crunch that’s also affecting console BOM costs. (bloomberg.com )

A wider trend: console prices are rising, not falling

Nintendo’s move follows a broader reversal of the old playbook where console prices usually fell over time. Sony raised prices globally on all PS5 models effective April 2, 2026, citing “continued pressures in the global economic landscape” in an official PlayStation Blog post. That context signals an industry adjusting to a prolonged period of elevated component and logistics costs. (blog.playstation.com )

PC gaming and handheld makers are navigating the same headwinds. Coverage across the games press has tied 2026’s price adjustments to a “memory crisis” unlikely to fully ease before 2027, reinforcing that today’s hikes may not be quickly reversible. (pcgamer.com )

Key dates to remember

May 8, 2026  — Nintendo announces global price revisions (press release)
May 25, 2026 — Japan: Switch 2 MSRP rises to ¥59,980; legacy Switch models increase
July 1, 2026 — Japan: Nintendo Switch Online price changes take effect (alignment planned in Korea)
September 1, 2026 — US/Canada/Europe: Switch 2 MSRP rises to $499.99/C$679.99/€499.99

These milestones are drawn from Nintendo’s official notice. (nintendo.co.jp )

The bottom line

• Switch 2 will cost $499.99 in the US from September 1, 2026; buy sooner if you were already planning to purchase this year.
• Japan’s increase lands first (May 25) and is broader, touching older Switch models and online service pricing.
• The drivers—costlier memory and tariffs—are industry‑wide and unlikely to resolve quickly, which is why other platform holders have already moved. (wkzo.com )

We’ll update this story as regional subsidiaries publish any additional local details ahead of September 1, 2026. (nintendo.co.jp )