Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa recently offered a more detailed explanation regarding the Nintendo Switch 2's price increase. During the latest financial results briefing, Furukawa stated that the price adjustment is primarily driven by rising costs for memory and other components. He emphasized that this pressure is not a short-term phenomenon and could continue to impact the company's operations not just this year, but potentially into next year as well.
Furukawa pointed out that if the cost increases were merely temporary, Nintendo could have absorbed them by boosting production efficiency or expanding the console's installed base to maintain the original hardware price. However, he noted that the recent surge in memory and other component prices, coupled with shifts in the foreign exchange market and oil price trends, are viewed as mid-to-long term pressures. Continuing to sell at the original price would significantly erode the Switch 2's hardware profitability, potentially impacting overall business operations.
Nintendo had previously announced that the Switch 2's price would increase starting September 1, 2026. In Europe, the price will rise from €470 to €500, while in the US, it will go from $450 to $500. The official UK price was not disclosed, as it is determined by retailers. This makes the Switch 2 another console this generation, following the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, to see a price hike after its initial launch.
Furukawa acknowledged that the price increase would, to some extent, raise the barrier for consumers to purchase the console. However, he stressed that Nintendo's paramount mission remains to deliver "gaming enjoyment that transcends the price itself." With Nintendo and other publishers set to release more Switch 2 titles, the company aims to convince players to buy the console through unique gaming experiences, thereby continuing to expand its installed base.
The Switch 2 launched in June 2025 and had sold nearly 20 million units by the end of March 2026, marking a robust first-year performance. However, Nintendo has since revised its second-year sales forecast downward to 16.5 million units, indicating the company's cautious outlook on the future market environment.
Note: Financial figures and earnings forecasts should be confirmed through the company’s official announcements.
via： Eurogamer