A former Nintendo sales executive believes the next Nintendo Switch will likely cost more than the original, but Nintendo might be able to lessen the impact of that price increase. They suggest that a planned adjustment to game pricing could help balance out the higher hardware cost.
The gaming industry has been significantly affected by a continuing shortage of DRAM chips. This shortage started when the growing demand from AI data centers increased the need for these essential components. Since late 2025, the cost of RAM, SSDs, and other PC parts has risen sharply. While prices for some DDR5 RAM have started to decrease slightly at stores like Amazon and Newegg, they remain higher than before. As a result of the RAM shortage, Sony announced that the price of all PS5 consoles will increase worldwide beginning April 2nd. Specifically, the PS5 Pro will see a price jump from $749 to $899.
Former Nintendo Sales Lead Says The Switch 2 Will See A Price Hike
With Sony planning to raise the price of the PlayStation 5, a former Nintendo employee predicts the upcoming Switch 2 might also become more expensive. Sean, a previous Nintendo sales leader, discussed this on the Kit and Krysta Podcast with two former Nintendo of America staff members, Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang. The conversation began with Nintendo’s planned pricing changes for its Switch 2 games – digital versions will be cheaper than physical copies. Sean called this a positive step for consumers. This new pricing structure will debut on May 21st with the release of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book on the Switch 2. Pre-orders for the game on the My Nintendo Store already reflect these changes: digital pre-orders are $59.99, while physical copies are $69.99.
Sean believes the next Nintendo Switch will likely cost more than the original, and suggests Nintendo probably delayed announcing the price to see how new tariffs would affect the market. While he didn’t specify exactly how much the price might increase, he thinks Nintendo is trying to lessen the impact, potentially by adjusting their software strategy. He sees this as a way to make a hardware price increase easier for customers to accept. Although he admits these are just predictions, Sean expects some first-party Switch 2 games could cost $70 or even $80 – he points to a potential $80 price tag for Mario Kart World as an example. With new games like Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave and Pokemon Winds and Waves on the way, we’ll soon find out how much these titles will actually cost.
Prospective Buyers Should Not Wait To Get a Switch 2
As a big Nintendo fan, I’ve been following the Switch 2 news closely. Right now, the console is supposed to launch in June 2025 for $449. They’re also planning bundles with games like Mario Kart World or Pokemon Legends: Z-A for around $499. But Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, has hinted that even that price isn’t set in stone. He mentioned in February 2026 that they’re watching the global economy and the situation with RAM – even though they weren’t having RAM issues then, a price increase for the Switch 2 is still a possibility if things change.
The Switch 2 will release with four major games in April, but it’s unclear when Nintendo will need to adjust the console’s price. Therefore, if you’re hoping to buy a new Nintendo console at the current price, it’s best to do so soon.
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2026-04-02 05:34