Nintendo might raise the price of Switch 2, says company president: tariffs are to blame
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa says they may raise the Switch 2’s price if Trump-era tariffs escalate further.
The next-gen Nintendo Switch 2 may not keep its launch price for long, at least not if Trump-era tariffs come back with a vengeance. Shuntaro Furukawa, president of Nintendo, revealed in an interview with Yahoo! News Japan that the company is closely monitoring the tariff situation and could adjust pricing accordingly if conditions worsen.
Nintendo Switch 2 price hike? It’s not off the table
In his statement, Furukawa emphasized that “right now, our top priority is making the Nintendo Switch 2 popular.” However, he also acknowledged that “if forecasts about tariffs change significantly, we’d like to consider what price adjustments we can make after weighing various factors.”
Nintendo CEO Furukawa talked to investors about the Switch 2 tariff situation: "The top priority is the Switch 2 launch and rapid adoption of the Switch 2 hardware" He said if there was a major change to the tariff situation, they would consider price adjustments. news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/156...
— Stealth40k (@stealth40k.bsky.social) 8 de mayo de 2025, 5:49
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In simpler terms: if the economic climate becomes more turbulent, Nintendo may have to raise the price of the Switch 2 to maintain profit margins.
While nothing is official yet, this cautious stance echoes the direction already taken by rivals. Both Sony and Microsoft have increased the prices of their consoles in recent months due to economic pressure:
- PlayStation 5 (Digital Edition): From $449.99 to $499.99 — its second price hike since launch.
- Xbox Series X: Jumped from $549.99 to $599.99, along with higher prices for games and controllers.
Nintendo has already been in the spotlight for premium game prices like Mario Kart World. The Switch 2 is set to launch at $449.99 in the US without a game and $499.99 bundled with Mario Kart World.
Why buying Switch 2 at launch might be the smart move
Historically, consoles and accessories tend to drop in price months after release, as production costs decrease. But this generation has flipped that trend—prices are climbing instead of falling.
In today’s volatile economy, waiting might cost you more. With the risk of further hikes looming, grabbing the Switch 2 at launch might actually be the budget-friendly choice.
The Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5, with pre-orders already live at select retailers, including the My Nintendo Store.
Should you buy now or wait?
Traditionally, cautious buyers wait for second-wave models to avoid hardware issues and snag discounts. But with the global economy tilting upward, early adopters might dodge the worst of future price hikes.
If you’re considering picking up the Nintendo Switch 2, it might be wise to secure your pre-order now, before potential tariff-based adjustments kick in.
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