Nintendo Raises Original Switch Prices, Blaming ‘Market Conditions’

Nintendo says it’s raising prices for the original Switch hardware lineup and select accessories. The company didn’t provide details of how much the price will increase or give a reason why other than saying the increase was “based on market conditions,” which is likely a reference to the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. 

The Switch OLED, Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite and certain accessories will see a price jump starting on Aug. 3, the company said in a post Friday. Nintendo says it will not increase the price of the recently released Switch 2, but did mention that “price adjustments may be necessary in the future.”

Other non-Switch accessories will also see a price increase. This includes certain Switch 2 accessories, Amiibo and the Nintendo Alarmo. Nintendo’s announcement didn’t provide details about the changes, but retailers have already adjusted their prices. 

List of Nintendo Switch hardware getting price increases

• Nintendo Switch OLED Model: $350 to $400
• Nintendo Switch: $300 to $340
• Nintendo Switch Lite:  $200 to $230
• Nintendo Sound Clock — Alarmo: $100 to $110
• Select Nintendo Switch accessories
• Select Nintendo Switch 2 accessories
• Select Amiibo

List of Nintendo Switch products not getting price increases

• Nintendo Switch 2
• Physical Nintendo Switch Games
• Physical Nintendo Switch 2 Games
• Digital Nintendo Switch Games
• Digital Nintendo Switch 2 Games
• Nintendo Switch Online Memberships

Nintendo didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. 

When the Switch 2 made its debut, there were concerns about the pricing of the console. The $450 launch price was higher than any other Nintendo console previously released, with some considering that it was higher to include possible tariffs. That same day, Trump announced a new set of tariffs on countries the US trades with. Three of those countries — China, Vietnam and Japan — are vital for Nintendo’s business. Japan is the most obvious, as Nintendo is based there. China is also easy to recognize as the country that manufactures most of Nintendo’s products, while Vietnam is the other country that produces the hardware for the company. Due to that announcement, Nintendo delayed preorders for the Switch 2 for the US. 

The Switch 2 did end up launching at the originally announced price, however, some accessories did increase in price before the system’s debut. If Nintendo increased the price of the Switch 2, experts said the jump could be up to $100. 

Not all retailers have increased their prices as of Friday on the original Switch hardware so those looking to pick one up should buy them before Aug. 3. The same could be said for gamers wanting a Switch 2 as that price could hike up soon.