I’m hearing it’s official – the Nintendo Switch 2 will be $499.99 in the US starting September 1st. It’s a bit more expensive than the original Switch was when it launched, about $50 more, but honestly, with Sony and Microsoft already raising prices on the PS5 and Xbox, I figured Nintendo would do the same eventually. It’s never fun to see prices go up, especially with everything going on with tariffs and parts shortages, but Nintendo actually raised the price the least of the three companies. And the good news is they’re not applying the new price until September, so there’s still time to grab one at the current price if you’re thinking about it!
Even though details are still emerging, the upcoming Switch 2 is projected to be the priciest console Nintendo has released since the original NES, when factoring in inflation. While previous Switch models were generally comparable in cost to other consoles, the Switch 2 will exceed that benchmark. Considering it’s launching at a higher price point and is only the standard model, it’s likely the most expensive Nintendo console ever released.
The CPI Inflation Calculator was used to calculate inflation.
I’m focusing only on the regular versions of the consoles, not any special editions or bundles.
The NES and Switch 2 Are The Most Expensive Nintendo Consoles…
… By A Wide Margin
As we discussed before, the Switch 2 is expected to cost $499.99 when it releases on September 1st. This would make it the priciest Nintendo console, unless you account for inflation. When adjusted for inflation, the original NES, which launched in October 1985 for $199, would actually cost around $604.53 today – significantly more than the Switch 2. Although these consoles are launching in very different conditions, there are some similarities between them that could explain why they cost more than consoles like the Nintendo 64 and GameCube.
After the video game market crashed in 1983, people were hesitant about gaming again. Nintendo carefully relaunched consoles with the NES, packaging it as a Deluxe Set including the Zapper and R.O.B. to present it more as a toy than a game system. Manufacturing cartridges was also costly because of the special chips they required. While different from today’s RAM shortages, both the NES and the upcoming Switch 2 launched when production costs were high, increasing their initial price.
There’s some confusion about how much the NES originally cost. It was likely around $180, which would be about $547 in today’s money.
Actually, The Switch 2 Will Likely Be The Most Expensive Nintendo Console Ever
The NES’s Launch Price Didn’t Last For Long
There’s a significant issue we need to address: console prices are rising during their lifecycle, which is unusual. Historically, consoles have gotten cheaper over time. For example, just a year after the NES launched in North America, it was already available for less money. By 1987, you could find NES bundles for around $150 – which is about $430 to $450 in today’s money.
Given the current global economic climate, prices are likely to remain stable for the next few years, and that’s assuming things don’t get worse. Because of this, if we look at past console prices, the Switch 2 would likely be Nintendo’s most expensive console yet.
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or SNES, came out in August 1991 with a price tag of $199.99 – about $483 today. While not cheap, it was actually a little less expensive than both the original Nintendo Entertainment System and the upcoming Switch 2.
The Switch 2 Will Be Way, Way More Expensive Than Every “3D” Nintendo Console
The Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, And Wii U Were Straight-Up Cheap In Comparison
| Console | Release Period | Launch Price | Adjusted For Inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Boy | August 1995 | $179.99 | $388.72 |
| Nintendo 64 | September 1996 | $199.99 | $418.50 |
| GameCube | November 2001 | $199.99 | $372.26 |
| Wii | November 2006 | $249.99 | $409.68 |
| Wii U | November 2012 | $299.99 | $430.28 |
| Switch | March 2017 | $299.99 | $406.32 |
Typically, Nintendo has launched its consoles around the $400 price point – the N64, Wii, and Switch all debuted at roughly the same cost, even though they came out in different decades. The GameCube was a particularly good value, being the most affordable Nintendo home console ever. Its low price, combined with its fantastic games, makes it one of the best consoles Nintendo has ever created.
Even before any price increase, a Switch 2 would be pricier than previous consoles like the GameCube and the original Switch – by a significant amount. If the price does go up, the difference becomes even more dramatic, bringing the base cost close to what the Wii U Deluxe Set originally sold for, and making it much more expensive than the Switch OLED.
In November 2012, the Wii U Deluxe Set cost $349.99, which is equivalent to about $502 today after accounting for inflation. The Nintendo Switch OLED model launched in October 2021 for the same price, $349.99, but that equals around $418 in today’s dollars.
How About Handheld Consoles? Oh, The Switch 2 Is Levels Above The GBA Or 3DS
Seriously, They Are Not Even In The Same Ballpark
| Console | Release Period | Launch Price | Adjusted For Inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Boy | July 1989 | $89.99 | $238.87 |
| Game Boy Color | November 1998 | $79.95 | $160.98 |
| GBA | June 2001 | $99.99 | $185.49 |
| Nintendo DS | November 2004 | $149.99 | $259.31 |
| Nintendo 3DS | March 2011 | $249.99 | $369.41 |
| Nintendo New 3DS XL | February 2015 | $199.99 | $281.35 |
| Switch Lite | September 2019 | $199.99 | $257.20 |
The Switch 2 is a unique console that blends home and handheld gaming, so it’s hard to compare directly to other handhelds. This generation is different for Nintendo because, unlike previous years, they aren’t releasing a separate, dedicated portable system alongside it. This means the Switch 2 is currently the only option for those wanting a Nintendo gaming experience on the go.
Players can continue using their original Switch or Switch Lite for now, but new, major games will become increasingly scarce for those consoles. To play Nintendo’s future big releases, players will need to upgrade to a Switch 2, as older handheld systems won’t be sufficient.
These prices don’t include any discounts that might happen after the product is released. For example, the 3DS dropped to $169.99 within six months of launch, which is about $250 today when you account for inflation.
How Will The Switch 2 Compare To The PS5 And Xbox Series X/S?
Honestly? Mostly Positively
Since the Wii, Nintendo has largely operated differently from Sony and Microsoft in the gaming console market. The upcoming Switch 2 continues this trend, but it’s shaping up to be Nintendo’s most competitive console since the GameCube, largely because it’s attracting more support from big-name game developers. However, the Switch 2 isn’t as powerful as the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or even the Xbox Series S.
When it comes to affordability, the Switch 2 is a great deal, only beaten by the Series S. Ignoring PCs, which are generally more expensive, both Sony and Microsoft have increased their console prices by more than Nintendo, and their consoles have been available for five years already.
- The cheapest PS5 in 2026 is the Digital Edition Slim, which costs $599.99. The launch price was $449.99 in 2023 ($483.91 adjusted for inflation).
- The cheapest Xbox Series X in 2026 is the Digital Edition, which also costs $599.99. The launch price was $449.99 in 2024 ($470.73 adjusted for inflation).
- The cheapest Xbox Series S in 2026 is the 512GB model, which costs $399.99. The launch price was $299.99 in 2020 ($380.67 adjusted for inflation).
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2026-05-09 15:08