Nintendo has told buyers that another Switch 2 price increase is not on its agenda. Company president Shuntaro Furukawa said Nintendo is “not considering additional changes” to the console’s price, a line that arrived alongside earnings numbers showing hardware sales sliding. The Nintendo Switch 2 price increase that took the US sticker from $449.99 to $499.99 on September 1, 2026 stays in place, and the company says it is not planning a second round.
That matters because the console now sits at a level that tests shoppers heading into the holidays. Our earlier report on Switch 2 sales falling after the $50 price hike showed the demand side of the story. This piece covers the supply side: what Furukawa said, what he left open, and what the memory market means for the next twelve months.
Don't miss new tech stories on Google
Add Tech Insider once in the Google app and our stories appear in your news suggestions.
Nintendo Says It Is Not Considering More Switch 2 Price Changes
The headline is simple. Furukawa told investors and press that Nintendo is not weighing another adjustment to the console’s price. TechPowerUp framed the same remarks as no plans for another Switch 2 price hike, and GamesRadar framed them around the company weathering the AI-driven memory shortage.
The confirmed facts are narrow. In the United States, the Nintendo Switch 2 MSRP rose from $449.99 to $499.99, effective September 1, 2026. That is a $50 jump, or about 11.1% by simple arithmetic. In Japan, the Nintendo Switch 2 Japanese-Language System (Japan Only) rose from ¥49,980 to ¥59,980 on May 25, 2026. Nintendo’s price notice dated May 8, 2026 set out the revisions.
Two things Nintendo has not said are equally important. It has not said it permanently ruled out future price increases, and it has not said $499.99 will hold indefinitely. Neither claim is confirmed anywhere in the record, so treat any headline that states them as fact with suspicion.
For retailers and investors, the statement serves a practical purpose. Store buyers placing holiday orders need to know whether the wholesale cost of the console will shift mid-season. Shareholders, meanwhile, want to hear that management sees a path to profit without another round of sticker changes. Furukawa’s remarks speak to both groups, even if they stop short of a binding pledge.
What Furukawa Actually Said About Memory Supply
The second half of the message concerns memory chips. According to GamesRadar, Furukawa said: “There has been no major change to the memory situation and Nintendo is in a position to secure sufficient quantities.”
Read carefully, that sentence makes two claims. The first is that conditions have not shifted much since the last time Nintendo discussed memory. The second is that supply is secure. It does not say costs have stopped rising, and it does not say they are falling. A company can have enough chips and still pay more for each one.
TweakTown reported a blunter version of the pricing stance. Furukawa said, in wording the outlet reproduced, “We are not thinking about rising the price at the moment.” The phrase “at the moment” carries weight. It describes today’s thinking, not a commitment that outlasts the next quarter.
Timeline of Switch 2 Price Moves From Launch to Today
The console launched on June 5, 2025 at $449.99, according to Nintendo’s launch announcement. It held that price in the US for roughly fifteen months before the September 2026 move. Japan’s change came first, about three months earlier. The table lays out the confirmed sequence.
| Date | Market and model | Price change | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 5, 2025 | United States, launch | $449.99 at release | Confirmed |
| May 8, 2026 | Price revisions notice | Revisions announced | Confirmed |
| May 25, 2026 | Japan, Japanese-Language System (Japan Only) | ¥49,980 to ¥59,980 | Confirmed |
| May 25, 2026 | Japan, Multi-Language System via My Nintendo Store | Unchanged | Confirmed |
| September 1, 2026 | United States | $449.99 to $499.99 | Confirmed |
| Next price move | Any market | “Not considering additional changes” | Current stance only |
The pattern shows Nintendo adjusting by region and model rather than flipping one global switch. That flexibility is why the “no additional changes” line applies to the plan as it stands today and not to every SKU in every country forever.
Japan’s Split Pricing Shows How Nintendo Targets Hikes
Japan offers the clearest example of targeted pricing. The Japanese-Language System, sold only inside the country, climbed ¥10,000, a 20% increase on the old ¥49,980 sticker. The Multi-Language System sold through My Nintendo Store did not move at all.
Two models, one console family, two different outcomes. Nintendo has not published its reasoning for the split, so any explanation is inference. A reasonable reading is that the domestic model serves price-sensitive local buyers while the multi-language version targets a smaller, import-minded audience. Still, that is analysis and not a statement from Nintendo.
The takeaway for Western readers is that Nintendo treats pricing as a dial, not a lever. If memory costs keep climbing, the company has precedents for adjusting one market or one model at a time. That makes a blanket promise of “no more increases” unlikely, which squares with Furukawa’s careful wording.
Why Memory Costs Sit Behind the Switch 2 Price Debate
Memory is the pressure point. Nintendo has linked rising component prices to profitability. In its official February 2026 Q and A summary, Furukawa warned that “If this rise in component prices lasts longer than expected and runs through the next fiscal year and beyond, it may put pressure on profitability.”
The same document had Furukawa saying Nintendo does not disclose details on individual components but is working to secure stable memory supplies through long-term talks with business partners. In other words, the company has been negotiating volume and price commitments for a while, and the latest remarks suggest those talks are holding.
The wider market explains the worry. Reports tie the squeeze to heavy demand for AI infrastructure, which pulls DRAM toward data centers and away from consumer devices. Our coverage of DDR5 chip prices rising 452% with relief slipping to 2028 cites a Team Group figure that shows how steep the move has been for PC-class memory. Console makers buy at scale and under contract, but they do not sit outside that market.
Sales After the Hike: 2.67 Million Units and a 41% Drop
The demand picture explains why Nintendo wants to calm the conversation. Earnings coverage reports that Nintendo shipped about 2.67 million Switch 2 consoles between July and September 2026, a 41% decline from the same stretch a year earlier. Cumulative shipments reached about 26.35 million units. The table pulls the headline figures together.
| Metric | Reported figure | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Switch 2 shipments, July to September 2026 | About 2.67 million | Second quarter of fiscal year ending March 2027 |
| Year-over-year change | Down 41% | Quarter followed the price increases |
| Cumulative Switch 2 shipments | About 26.35 million | Since June 5, 2025 launch |
| Full-year hardware forecast | 16.5 million units | Retained for fiscal year ending March 2027 |
| US MSRP since September 1, 2026 | $499.99 | Up from $449.99 |
Our own tally of the quarter, Switch 2 selling 2.67 million units, down 41%, with the forecast intact, walks through the same numbers. One caution applies. A 41% drop compares against a strong year-earlier quarter, so the decline mixes price effects with a tough baseline. Nobody outside Nintendo can cleanly separate the two.
The 16.5 Million Unit Forecast and the Holiday Bet
Nintendo kept its forecast of 16.5 million Switch 2 units for the fiscal year ending March 2027. Holding the number after a 41% quarterly drop signals confidence that the holiday period and the software lineup will carry the year. Our earlier look at a plan that leans on 61% of sales in the second half and Zelda explains how back-loaded the target is.
This is where the pricing message does real work. A company counting on a heavy November and December cannot afford shoppers waiting for a rumored second hike or, worse, a rumored cut. By saying it is not considering more changes, Nintendo removes one source of hesitation. It also quietly closes the door on a holiday price drop, which would have cost margin it has just fought to protect.
Our report on Nintendo’s profit falling 29% to ¥73.5B adds the earnings side. Lower hardware volume and a higher component bill both feed that profit line, which is why Furukawa spent so much of the call on memory.
What “Not Considering” Does and Does Not Promise
Corporate language is precise, and the gap between “not considering” and “will not” is wide. Furukawa’s own February 2026 Q and A used similar hedging, saying that on any future change in Switch 2 hardware pricing, no decision had been made at that time. Nintendo is describing its current agenda. It is not signing a contract with buyers.
| Claim | Status | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| US price is $499.99 since September 1, 2026 | Confirmed | Nintendo pricing notice |
| Nintendo is not considering additional changes now | Confirmed | Furukawa, per The Verge and GamesRadar |
| Memory supply is sufficient for production | Confirmed as Nintendo’s position | Furukawa quote via GamesRadar |
| Nintendo has permanently ruled out all future increases | Unconfirmed | No such statement on record |
| Price stays at $499.99 indefinitely | Unconfirmed | No such statement on record |
The risk Furukawa did name
TweakTown’s headline says Nintendo warned that RAM price hikes will affect next year’s business. That squares with the profitability warning in the company’s own Q and A. The fiscal year starting April 2027 is where a prolonged memory squeeze would bite hardest, because contracts signed at today’s prices will start rolling over.
Switch 2 Against PlayStation on Price
At $499.99, the Switch 2 now sits near the entry point of Sony’s lineup. Our cheapest PS5 price roundup lists the Digital model at $599.99 and the PS5 Pro at $899.99. Nintendo’s machine still undercuts the PS5 Digital, though the gap now stands at $100.
Sony faces the same memory market. Nintendo’s confidence about supply invites buyers to ask how other platforms plan to handle memory costs. Still, hardware comparisons depend on more than sticker price. Game libraries, online subscriptions, and portability all shape the real cost of ownership.
For readers weighing handhelds against consoles, the new price also changes the math against PC handhelds. Our guide to six buy-now handheld picks starting at $499.99 shows the Switch 2 now shares a price bracket with devices it once undercut.
Historical Context: Console Prices Used to Fall With Age
For decades the console business ran on a simple rule. Hardware launched at its highest price and drifted down as manufacturing costs fell and rivals pushed back. Mid-cycle increases were rare enough to count as news events.
The Switch 2 broke that pattern within about fifteen months of its June 2025 launch. Component inflation, not competition, drove the change. That inversion is why the pricing conversation feels different this time. Buyers who remember a cheaper console year after year now have to treat the launch price as a floor.
Furukawa’s emphasis on stable supply reads partly as an effort to avoid being forced into a second move. That reading is analysis, not a Nintendo statement.
What the Statement Means for Buyers This Holiday Season
Shoppers should read the statement as a mild reassurance, not a guarantee. If you were waiting for another increase to force your hand, Nintendo says it is not planning one. If you were waiting for a discount, the same statement suggests the price is not about to fall.
- Buy now if you want the console for the holidays. The company is not signaling a near-term move in either direction.
- Check retailer bundles before paying the base price. Our guide to where to buy the Zelda Switch 2 at $519.99 shows how bundle pricing can differ from the standard console.
- In Japan, compare the Multi-Language System sold through My Nintendo Store with the Japanese-Language model, since only one rose in price.
- Watch Nintendo’s next earnings call. That is where any change in tone on memory costs would appear first.
Browse the rest of our gaming coverage for console pricing, sales trackers, and buying guides as the holiday quarter develops.
The Arithmetic of a Second Price Hike
Consider why Nintendo might want to avoid one. The US console already costs 11.1% more than at launch. Japan’s Japanese-Language System rose 20%, almost double the US percentage. Those are large moves for a product that is barely a year and a half old.
Now run a hypothetical. Another $50 would put the US price at $549.99, only $50 below the PS5 Digital price listed in our roundup. A $100 move would reach $599.99 and erase the gap entirely. This is arithmetic, not a forecast, and Nintendo has announced nothing of the kind. But it shows how little room the company has before the console stops looking like the value pick in its category.
That constraint likely shapes the careful language. A second increase would hit a buyer pool that has already shown sensitivity, with shipments down 41% in the latest quarter. Protecting volume through the holidays looks like the stronger play, and a firm “not considering” lets Nintendo keep that option without boxing itself in.
What to Watch in Nintendo’s Next Disclosures
Several signals will show whether the pricing calm survives. The first is memory commentary on the next earnings call. If Furukawa moves from “no major change” to language about costs worsening, a regional adjustment becomes more plausible.
The second is the shipment run rate against the 16.5 million unit forecast. Nintendo kept the number after a weak quarter, which commits the company to a strong holiday. A miss would raise pressure on margins and could push management toward promotions or, in the worst case, another look at pricing.
The third is any new price notice from Nintendo’s corporate site. The May 8, 2026 announcement came with a formal release, so a future change would likely arrive the same way. Until one appears, the confirmed record is the $499.99 US price, the Japanese-Language System at ¥59,980, and a president on the record saying no further changes are under consideration.
Five Predictions for Switch 2 Pricing and Memory Costs
These are our own forecasts, based on the confirmed record. None come from Nintendo.
- The US price holds through the holidays. With the 16.5 million unit target resting on a strong second half, Nintendo has little reason to move the sticker before January.
- Bundles do the discounting. Expect retailers and Nintendo to add games and accessories rather than cut the base price, which protects the $499.99 anchor.
- Memory commentary dominates the next earnings call. Furukawa has tied profitability to component prices on the record, so analysts will press for specifics on contract terms.
- Regional adjustments remain possible. Japan’s split pricing shows Nintendo will move one market without touching others if costs demand it.
- The real test arrives in the fiscal year starting April 2027. If memory costs stay elevated, “not considering” could change fast.
FAQ: Nintendo Switch 2 Price Increase
How much did the Nintendo Switch 2 price increase in the US?
The MSRP rose from $449.99 to $499.99 on September 1, 2026, a $50 increase of about 11.1%.
Is Nintendo planning another Switch 2 price hike?
Not at present. Furukawa said Nintendo is not considering additional changes, according to The Verge and GamesRadar. That describes current thinking, not a permanent promise.
Did the Switch 2 price rise in Japan?
Yes, for one model. The Japanese-Language System (Japan Only) went from ¥49,980 to ¥59,980 on May 25, 2026. The Multi-Language System sold through My Nintendo Store stayed unchanged.
Will the Switch 2 stay at $499.99 forever?
Nobody can confirm that. Nintendo has not said the price is fixed indefinitely, and it has not ruled out future increases.
What did Furukawa say about memory supply?
He said there has been no major change to the memory situation and that Nintendo is in a position to secure sufficient quantities, as GamesRadar reported.
How many Switch 2 consoles has Nintendo shipped?
Earnings coverage puts cumulative shipments at about 26.35 million units, including roughly 2.67 million shipped from July through September 2026.
Why are console prices going up at all?
Nintendo has pointed to rising component costs, and reports connect the pressure on memory chips to heavy AI infrastructure demand. Nintendo has also warned that prolonged component inflation could squeeze profitability.
