Story perspectives

Nintendo hikes Switch 2 US price to $499 amid shortage

5/12/2026

Summary

Nintendo Raises Prices

Nintendo announced the U.S. MSRP for the Switch 2 will rise from $449 to $499 on September 1, 2026.
Nintendo said a global memory shortage and other market conditions force the price revision.
Nintendo will sell a $500 Choose Your Game Bundle with a digital code for Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia this summer at participating retailers.
Prices will rise to €499.99 in Europe and to $679.99 in Canada.

Summary

Nintendo Shares Fall

Nintendo's shares fell 8% after announcing a September 1, 2026 Switch 2 price increase, leaving stock down 34% for 2026.
Shareholders urged hike, saying Switch 2 was sold at a loss.
Nintendo warned that volatility could force hikes into 2027, noting sales would drop 16.9% to about 16.5 million units for the year ending March 2027.
Fans filed a class-action suit demanding tariff refunds be returned to customers who paid higher prices for Switch 2 accessories.

Summary

Nintendo Apologizes

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa apologized to fans for the Switch 2 price increase and promised a strong software lineup.
Shareholders warned that the console’s library lacks major AAA games beyond Nintendo franchises, heightening pricing pressure.
Nintendo plans to launch Pokémon Winds & Waves in 2027 and new 3D Mario and Zelda titles to stimulate sales.
AI-driven memory-chip cost spikes drove the Switch 2 price rise.

History

Historical Context

The 2021 global semiconductor shortage, first identified by the Semiconductor Industry Association, forced major electronics firms to raise product prices in North America. Nintendo reported a 30% surge in memory-chip costs, while Sony and Microsoft each cited $200 million added expenses in fiscal year ending March 2022. Similarly, the 2026 Switch 2 price hike to $499 mirrors those 2021 adjustments, prompting shareholder backlash and a class-action suit for domestic and overseas markets. U.S. Federal Trade Commission warns cost spikes could erode console margins, accelerating Nintendo’s shift toward subscription services and hardware revenue as the industry faces volatility.

1 of 4

Nintendo Raises Prices

Nintendo announced the U.S. MSRP for the Switch 2 will rise from $449 to $499 on September 1, 2026.
Nintendo said a global memory shortage and other market conditions force the price revision.
Nintendo will sell a $500 Choose Your Game Bundle with a digital code for Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia this summer at participating retailers.
Prices will rise to €499.99 in Europe and to $679.99 in Canada.

1 / 4