Nintendo Switch 2 price rises to $500 on 1 September — UK TBC

Nintendo will raise the price of the Switch 2 in the United States from $449.99 to $499.99 on 1 September 2026, the company confirmed in its annual earnings release. It is the first price change for the console since its record-breaking launch on 5 June 2025. For UK buyers, an equivalent rise looks all but certain — but Nintendo UK has yet to put a number on it.

What Nintendo has confirmed

The price revision covers multiple regions simultaneously. From 1 September, the US price moves to $499.99, Europe moves to €499.99 (up €30), and Canada rises to $679.99 CAD (up $50). Japan has already seen its increase, which took effect on 25 May 2026 — more than three months ahead of the rest of the world.

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa set out the company's position plainly during the financial results presentation: "This change in hardware pricing was not due to any one specific factor. Rather, the decision was made in light of various changes in the recent market conditions which we believe will have a medium- to long-term impact on the global outlook of our dedicated video game platform business. Unfortunately, the recent surge in memory and other component prices, and the changes in the market environment, including trends in the foreign exchange market and the price of oil, are all factors that we anticipate will continue over the medium to long term."

Furukawa acknowledged the commercial risk, noting that the higher price may create an additional barrier to entry, but said Nintendo is confident that "engaging fun" will help enhance the Switch 2's ownership value for consumers. He also flagged ongoing uncertainty: "While uncertainties remain regarding future trends in component prices, we recognise that they could have an impact not only this year but next year as well."

Nintendo's official US statement added: "We understand that pricing changes can be challenging for customers and deeply appreciate the continued enthusiasm of our fans for Nintendo products and experiences."

What about the UK price?

The Switch 2 currently retails at £395.99 in the UK. Nintendo UK has not confirmed a revised figure as of today, 20 August 2026. Based on the scale of increases seen in comparable markets, analysts and retailers broadly expect a UK rise in the £25–£35 range, which would put the console in the region of £430. Until Nintendo UK makes a formal announcement, any specific post-rise figure should be treated with caution — but the direction is not in doubt.

In the US, Nintendo has already begun preparing customers in-store: kiosk screens at retail locations have been spotted displaying the message "The suggested retail price of the Nintendo Switch 2 system will increase to $499.99 on September 1," appearing between demo sessions. Reports of the signage — spotted at a Walmart — have been shared on the Nintendo Switch 2 subreddit and reported by Nintendo Life.

What is driving the increase?

The LPDDR5X memory used inside the Switch 2 saw costs rise sharply through the first half of 2026, driven largely by AI data centres consuming global chip supply at scale. Nintendo references challenging market conditions repeatedly in its FY26 report, and estimates that rising hardware costs will impact its FY27 earnings by around 100 billion yen — approximately $640 million. The company has also pointed to the continued impact of US trade tariffs. Notably, Nintendo has stated that even at the new, higher price, the Switch 2's MSRP will not fully cover the cost of producing each unit.

The Switch 2 is not alone. Similar price increases hit the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Steam Deck OLED earlier in 2026, according to Nintendo Life.

A console that has already sold exceptionally well

The price rise comes off the back of a remarkable first year. The Switch 2 sold over 3.5 million units worldwide in the four days following its launch — making it Nintendo's fastest-selling console ever — and shipped 19.86 million units by 31 March 2026, beating Nintendo's own forecast and outselling the PS5 over the same quarter.

In the UK specifically, the Switch 2 hit one million sales in just 52 weeks, which is 30 weeks faster than the original Switch managed the same milestone, and ranks it as the sixth fastest-selling home console in UK history. Nintendo expects that momentum to slow, however, and is forecasting sales of around 16.5 million units in the coming financial year — partly as a consequence of the price increases.

A separate European development: the removable battery model

European Switch 2 buyers also have a second change coming this autumn. Nintendo has announced a revised Switch 2 model for Europe featuring a user-replaceable battery, designed to comply with the EU Batteries Legislation passed in 2023, which requires built-in batteries to be replaceable by 18 February 2027. The updated hardware will carry an "OSM" code on its packaging.

The revision brings minor physical changes: battery capacity drops slightly from 5,220 mAh to 5,172 mAh — not a meaningful performance difference — and the system gains around 10 grams in weight, bringing the complete package with Joy-Con 2 attached to approximately 548 grams. Nintendo has not yet confirmed whether the revised model will carry a different price. The original Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED will instead be phased out in Europe in early 2027 rather than being updated.

What UK buyers should do now

The pricing for the original Nintendo Switch system is not changing. But for anyone considering a Switch 2 purchase, this week — before the end of August — is the most realistic remaining window to buy at £395.99. Nintendo consoles are not routinely discounted, and there is no indication a sale will follow the price rise to soften the impact. If you have been on the fence, the clock is ticking.