Nintendo Weighs Potential Price Increase for Switch 2 Amid Rising Memory Costs

Nintendo Co. is contemplating a price hike for its recently launched Switch 2 console in 2026, according to people familiar with the matter, as surging demand for memory chips driven by artificial intelligence applications drives up component costs across the tech industry.

The Kyoto-based gaming giant, which launched the Switch 2 last year at $449.99 in the U.S., has so far held firm on the console’s pricing despite earlier pressures from tariffs and other economic factors. But a Bloomberg report published this week cites sources indicating the company is now evaluating an increase due to the ongoing shortage of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and related semiconductors.

“Close rival Nintendo Co., which contributed to the surplus demand in 2025 after its new Switch 2 console drove storage card purchases, is also contemplating raising the price of that device in 2026, people familiar with its plans said,” the report stated. Representatives for Nintendo did not respond to requests for comment.

The potential adjustment comes just months after Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa addressed similar concerns during a recent earnings call with shareholders. Furukawa indicated that rising memory costs had not yet meaningfully affected the company’s profitability or prompted a price change, attributing the stability to a reluctance to react to short-term market fluctuations. However, he noted that persistent volatility could lead to a reevaluation of pricing strategy.

Industry analysts have echoed the possibility of a hike. Research firm Niko Partners predicted earlier this year that Nintendo would likely follow competitors like Sony and Microsoft in raising hardware prices, driven by tariffs, increased memory expenses and broader macroeconomic conditions. Some observers speculate the Switch 2 could move toward a $499 price point in key markets like the United States, potentially through discontinuing the base $449.99 SKU in favor of higher-tier bundles.

The Switch 2, Nintendo’s successor to the original Switch that has sold more than 152 million units since 2017, features upgrades including improved graphics, faster processing and backward compatibility with existing Switch games. It debuted as the company’s most expensive console to date, a $150 jump from the original model’s $299 launch price. Despite the premium positioning, the device has seen strong demand, contributing to robust sales momentum in major markets.

The memory crunch stems from explosive growth in AI data centers, which has created “parabolic” demand for advanced chips and squeezed global supply chains. The same pressures have reportedly prompted Sony Group Corp. to consider delaying its next-generation PlayStation console — potentially the PS6 — to 2028 or 2029.
Nintendo has previously navigated cost challenges without immediate hardware price adjustments. Last year, the company absorbed impacts from U.S. tariffs on goods from China, Japan and Vietnam without raising the Switch 2’s launch price, though some accessories saw modest increases. The console’s current official pricing remains $449.99 for the standard model and $499.99 for certain bundles, such as one including Mario Kart World, according to Nintendo’s website.

Any price increase could test consumer appetite for the hybrid portable-home console, particularly amid competition from other gaming platforms and broader economic sensitivities. Analysts warn that a hike so soon after launch risks slowing sales momentum, though Nintendo’s track record of strong first-party titles and family-friendly appeal has historically buffered such pressures.

The company has not confirmed any timeline or specifics for a potential change. Nintendo’s next major financial update is expected later this year, which may provide further clarity on how rising component costs are affecting its hardware strategy.

For now, the Switch 2 continues to lead in U.S. hardware sales charts for several months running, underscoring its popularity despite the premium entry point. Whether Nintendo opts to maintain its current pricing or pass on higher costs to consumers remains a closely watched question in the gaming industry.