The Nintendo Switch 2 has been officially announced, and after years of leaks and rumours, that feels surreal enough in and of itself. For now, however, there’s not much that we know about the console, with many of its most crucial details set to be revealed in a Nintendo Direct presentation in April. In all likelihood, that will include the console’s pricing, though veteran industry analysts have already offered some clues as to what to expect on that front.
Multiple analysts spoke to IGN about the Switch 2’s likely price, and most seem to agree that it will likely cost $400 at launch. In comparison, the Switch launched for a price of $300, while the Switch OLED is currently available for $350.
Kantan Games’ Dr. Serkan Toto has said that $400 is the “price they need to succeed”, and touching on the device’s reveal trailer, says that he “cannot see a lot from the trailer that would justify them charging $450″. Fellow analysts Piers Harding-Rolls and Circana’s Mat Piscatella seem to be in agreement.
That said, there’s a chance that the Switch 2 could be available for higher prices, going up to $450 or even $500. Rhys Elliot of MIDiA, for instance, says that factors such as early supply shortages could lead to Nintendo choosing a higher launch price for the device.
If the Switch 2 is supply-constrained at launch, Nintendo could charge more,” the analyst said. “Early adopters would be willing to pay for it, and if it’s going to sell out anyway, Nintendo might think, ‘Why not?’ I think Sony and Microsoft regret releasing the base PS5 and Series X consoles at $500. Both could have got away with $600 or more at launch.” Elliot did, however, ultimately also agree that $400 would likely be the “sweet spot” for Nintendo.
Meanwhile, Piscatella suggested that the price that the console launches at might not necessarily affect its initial sales too much. “Early adopters won’t be price sensitive, and prices can always be lowered. Of course, people will want it to be lower than whatever it is it will be announced at,” he said.
Prices for consoles tend to fluctuate, though that hasn’t always been the case with Nintendo, especially during the Switch era. For instance, all three Switch models have had exactly zero price cuts. The base Switch is priced at $300, the Switch OLED at $350, and the Switch Lite at $200, which are exactly the prices that those models launched at. There’s a good chance, then, that the price the Switch 2 launches at will be that model’s price until the end of its lifecycle.
