The announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 has sparked widespread excitement, but a crucial detail remains elusive: the price. Nintendo has still not disclosed the new console's price, which could take longer. The next Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, expected in April of 2025, is expected to be a software-based event, but the experts have shared their opinions on what the console might cost, and most of them expect it to be $400.
Many experts in the gaming industry have given their opinions on how much the Nintendo Switch 2 might cost, and most of them have suggested $400. Dr. Serkan Toto from Kantan Games said that $400 would be the “price they need to succeed,” noting that the trailer showcased a larger and more powerful console but lacked features that could warrant a higher price tag of $450. Circana’s analysts like Mat Piscatella and Piers Harding-Rolls supported this estimate. They also expressed the view that the effect of the price on the total sales volume would be insignificant, provided that the cost was not too high.
Toto pointed out that the first model of the Nintendo Switch was introduced in the market at $300, and up to the present, the price has not changed much, with only slight variations depending on special editions or bundles. On the other hand, the current price for the Nintendo Switch OLED model is $350, and the Switch Lite, a more affordable option, costs $200. The general belief is that the Switch 2 will be priced similarly, and $400 has been estimated for the initial release.
Although $400 is the price that analysts find most reasonable, some factors may increase the price. According to Rhys Elliot of MIDiA, Nintendo might hike the price if the Switch 2 is supply-constrained at launch. He pointed out that early adopters would be ready to pay a premium, especially if the console is out of stock within the first few days. Elliot pointed out that Sony and Microsoft could have set higher price tags for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X if they had not been constrained by the supply chain challenges early on.
Elliot also stressed that Nintendo, unlike Sony and Microsoft, depends on its hardware and thus won’t incur major losses on the console. Nintendo’s strategy would probably be to ensure that the console costs less than it is to produce at launch to break even from hardware sales. This approach indicates that if the cost of manufacturing the Switch 2 is high because of the enhanced features, the price may even exceed $400.
The final pricing decision for the Nintendo Switch 2 could also be affected by the existing broader economic environment and potential tariffs. Any significant changes in U.S. administration policies, such as new tariffs, could change consumer reception and, eventually, the price, Joost van Dreunen, author of the Super Joost newsletter, told me. Despite the exact pricing being unknown, analysts all seem to think that the $400 mark is where it will fall, the same right around where most expect the console to be priced when it hits shelves.