It's officially happening. Starting September 1st, the Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $499.99 in the US.That's $50 more than the launch price. Sony and Microsoft have already increased the prices of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series respectively, so it was only a matter of time before Nintendo followed suit. It may be difficult to see the positive side of these increases related to tariffs and RAM shortages, but Nintendo has increased the prices of its consoles the least among the three manufacturers. More importantly, the decision to delay implementation of the new pricing until September gives people a chance to purchase the console before then.
Regardless, the Switch 2 will be the most expensive console since the NES when adjusted for inflation. From the get-go, it was already one of the most expensive systems in Nintendo's history, but it was at least comparable to most other home consoles. After September 1st, the Switch 2 will be the most expensive Nintendo console since the NES. A year into its lifespan, and if you only consider the base model, the Switch 2 is arguably the most expensive Nintendo console of all time.
We calculated inflation using the CPI inflation calculator.
Additionally, we are only considering the standard version of the console. So it is not a deluxe set or bundle.
Nintendo Reveals the 5 Best-Selling Switch 2 Games of All Time
Nintendo is revealing the best-selling Switch 2 exclusive games released so far for its latest home console/portable hybrid.
NES and Switch 2 are the most expensive Nintendo consoles…
…by a wide margin
As mentioned earlier, The Switch 2 will be available on September 1st for $499.99.Without adjusting for inflation, it is the most expensive Nintendo console. However, if we consider the latter, The NES' launch price of $199 in October 1985 was $604.53. In today's money, that's a lot higher than the current system. Although the consoles are entering completely different markets, they share some similarities that may explain why they are more expensive than the likes of the Nintendo 64 and GameCube.
The NES was released at a time when trust in gaming was at an all-time low due to the 1983 crash, so Nintendo played it extra safe by releasing the console as part of a deluxe set that included Zapper and ROB. In this way, the company was able to market the NES as a toy rather than a video game. Additionally, the cartridges were expensive to manufacture because they used special chips. This isn't exactly the same as the current RAM shortage, but both the NES and Switch 2 exist in situations that amplify their base prices.
I found conflicting reports about the launch price of the NES, which may have cost $180 ($546.81 in 2026).
In fact, the Switch 2 will likely be the most expensive Nintendo console ever.
The launch price of the NES didn't last long
Now there is a big elephant in the room that we need to discuss. For almost the first time in history, consoles are becoming more expensive over their lifetime rather than going in the opposite direction. A year after the NES's NA debut, you could already find it for a lower price. By 1987, $150 bundles were common, which, adjusted for inflation, would cost about $430 to $450.
Top 10 SNES Masterpieces of All Time, Ranked
The SNES had no shortage of amazing video games that continue to be considered masterpieces years later.
Given the current state of the world, we are likely to stick with current prices for the next few years, hoping that things don't get any worse. As a result, compared to the one-year price of the previous system, Switch 2 will be the most expensive Nintendo console ever.
The SNES was released in August 1991 for $199.99, and will cost around $483 in 2026. So while it's quite expensive, it's still slightly cheaper than the NES and Switch 2.
The Switch 2 is significantly more expensive than any “3D” Nintendo console.
The Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, and Wii U were really cheap by 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 |
Wii U aside, Nintendo has generally kept its consoles priced around $400 at launch, with the N64, Wii, and Switch essentially maintaining the same price despite falling over three decades. The GameCube was also a steal, launching as the cheapest Nintendo home console of all time. Along with many classic games, the price was another reason why the GameCube should be considered the best of all time.
Now, even without a price increase, the Switch 2 is already more expensive than those systems, and there's a significant difference when compared to the GameCube and even the original Switch. The price increase makes it really impossible to compare, with the console's base price being roughly the same as the Wii U Deluxe set and significantly more expensive than the Switch OLED.
The Wii U Deluxe Set cost $349.99 as of November 2012, or $502 when adjusted for inflation. The Switch OLED was released in October 2021 for $349.99, which is equivalent to $417.84 in today's money.
What about portable consoles? Oh, Switch 2 is at a higher level than GBA or 3DS
Seriously, they're not even in the same ballpark
|
console |
release period |
launch price |
Adjusted for inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
game boy |
July 1989 |
$89.99 |
$238.87 |
|
gameboy 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 light |
September 2019 |
$199.99 |
$257.20 |
As a hybrid console, the Switch 2 offers the best of both worlds, so it can't be directly compared to a portable console. However, if you consider the Switch Lite as its own console, it's the first generation that Nintendo doesn't even support a dedicated portable system, meaning there really isn't an alternative to the Switch 2.
The coolest games on any Nintendo handheld device
Here are some jaw-dropping games from over the years for Nintendo's legendary handheld gaming console!
Yes, players will still be able to use the original Switch and Switch Lite for the time being, but major new games for those consoles will become increasingly rare. If anyone wants to play some of Nintendo's upcoming big titles, they'll have to buy a Switch 2 and can't rely on a portable system.
All these prices do not take into account post-launch discounts. For example, within six months the 3DS was reduced to $169.99, or just $250 when adjusted for inflation.
How does Switch 2 compare to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S?
to be honest? mostly positive
Nintendo has existed in a little bubble since the Wii, and its consoles generally don't feel like direct competitors to Sony and Microsoft systems. Switch 2 still does. It's the most competitive device since the GameCube era. Especially since it offers more features for major third-party games than the Wii U or Switch. Still, the Switch 2 lacks performance compared to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and even Series S.
If we're just talking about the price tag, the Switch 2 is probably the best product on the market outside of the PC scene, with the exception of the Series S (which is more expensive than ever anyway). Sony and Microsoft have increased the prices of all of their consoles by significantly more than the increase for the upcoming Switch 2, a variant of a system that has been around for five years.
-
The cheapest PS5 in 2026 is the Digital Edition Slim, which costs $599.99. The 2023 launch price was $449.99 ($483.91 adjusted for inflation).
-
The cheapest Xbox Series X in 2026 is the Digital Edition, which also costs $599.99. The 2024 launch price was $449.99 ($470.73 adjusted for inflation).
-
The cheapest Xbox Series S in 2026 is the 512GB model, which costs $399.99. The 2020 launch price was $299.99 ($380.67 when adjusted for inflation).
- brand
-
nintendo
- original release date
-
June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
-
$449.99
- operating system
-
ownership
