Nintendo Says RAM Crisis Has ‘No Immediate Impact’ on Switch 2 Costs but Doesn’t Rule Out a Future Price Hike

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Despite increasing costs for components like RAM, Nintendo currently doesn’t plan to raise the price of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Pricing has been a concern for the new console, with worries about potential tariffs and complaints about the cost of games, updates, and accessories. For now, the Switch 2 will avoid these broader market price increases, but Nintendo is keeping a close watch on the situation and future price changes haven’t been ruled out.

Ever since the cost of RAM started to increase sharply at the end of 2025, people have been discussing rising prices. Manufacturers like Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix began prioritizing memory for AI data centers over gaming, which caused prices for RAM, SSDs, and other computer parts to jump significantly, and they don’t seem to be coming down anytime soon. While PC gamers have felt the biggest impact, there’s concern that Xbox and Sony might postpone the release of their new consoles. Now, Nintendo has explained how they are dealing with the situation.

Nintendo President Says Switch 2 Is Safe from Rising RAM Costs for Now

I was really worried the new Switch 2 might be more expensive, but it sounds like Nintendo has things under control! I read that Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, said the price will stay the same for now, even though RAM prices are all over the place. Apparently, they planned ahead and already bought a bunch of the parts they need, so they’re good for the moment. He did say things could change down the line, but it’s a relief to hear the price won’t be going up right away. It’s good to see they have a solid supply chain strategy!

Image via Nintendo

Nintendo is keeping a close eye on the fluctuating memory market, according to Furukawa. While he didn’t directly say a new Switch would cost more if memory prices rise, it’s likely Nintendo would consider it if RAM remains expensive. Their current supply of stored memory won’t last forever, and historically, Nintendo has increased prices when costs go up – they raised the price of the original Switch in Fall 2025 due to market conditions, showing they’re willing to adjust prices when necessary.

Things aren’t looking great for those hoping to buy a Switch 2 soon. Although Nintendo isn’t planning a price increase right now, a shortage of memory chips is likely to continue, which could lead to limited availability. Micron, a key supplier, predicts this RAM shortage will last past 2026 as production struggles to meet rising demand. If this shortage continues for much longer, Nintendo might have to reconsider its pricing and increase the cost of the Switch 2 to cover higher manufacturing costs, even though they’re currently trying to avoid that.

Image via Nintendo

While the cost of RAM is a concern, Nintendo is also keeping a close eye on tariffs and how they might impact hardware prices. According to company president Furukawa, Nintendo generally passes tariff costs onto consumers, meaning any increases in these costs would likely result in higher prices for buyers. This isn’t new – Nintendo recently increased prices on some Switch 2 accessories due to tariffs, and a price increase for the console itself remains a possibility.

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2026-01-12 19:07