Nintendo has announced that some physical games for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 will cost more than the digital versions. This price difference will start later this year, beginning with a new first-party game planned for release in spring 2026.
The new Nintendo Switch 2 will not only have its own exclusive games, but it will also work with almost all games made for the original Nintendo Switch. A system update in March 2026 added a feature called Handheld Boost Mode. When enabled, this mode allows older Switch games to display in 1080p resolution while playing in handheld mode – a noticeable improvement over the original Switch’s 720p resolution. While using Handheld Boost Mode does use more battery power, games like Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Metroid Prime Remastered have been shown to perform better with it.
Some Switch 2 Physical and Digital Games Will Have Split Pricing
As the Switch 2 nears its one-year mark, Nintendo announced that the prices of some of its exclusive games will be changing soon. Specifically, first-party titles will have different prices depending on whether you buy a physical copy or download a digital version. Nintendo explained that the costs of making and manufacturing both types of games are the reason for this change. They say this will give players more options when purchasing Nintendo games. However, prices will still vary between different stores, as retailers set their own prices. This pricing difference already applies to pre-orders for Yoshi and the Mysterious Book on Nintendo’s website. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book releases on May 21st and will require 20.6 GB of storage space on the Switch 2 console.
Currently, the digital version of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book costs $59.99 on the My Nintendo Store, while physical copies are available for pre-order at $69.99. It’s unknown whether the price increase planned for May 2026 will affect other first-party games for the Switch 2. For comparison, Pokemon Pokopia and Mario Kart World are currently priced at $69.99 and $79.99, respectively, for physical and digital versions. This price change won’t impact games already available on the original Switch or other platforms. Some third-party Switch 2 games are using a new, potentially unpopular Game-Key Card format to lower production costs, so it’s still to be seen how Nintendo’s pricing strategy will compare.
Nintendo Has More Economic Decisions to Make
Even with the new console, Nintendo is still facing some production challenges. Sales of the Nintendo Switch 2 have been lower than expected in the US, leading to reports that Nintendo might reduce production numbers for the next few months. This slowdown isn’t due to a shortage of computer memory chips, but rather because many Nintendo fans are waiting for more exclusive games to be released before upgrading from their original Switch. The delay of Pokemon Winds and Waves until 2027, instead of its originally planned 2026 release, could impact how quickly fans decide to buy the new Switch 2.
Despite avoiding RAM shortages so far, Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, mentioned in February that they’re watching the rising cost of RAM closely, as it could impact the price of the upcoming Switch 2. With Switch 2 production slowing down and RAM prices continuing to increase, potential buyers might want to consider purchasing a console soon before prices possibly go up.
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2026-03-25 22:10