It is officially happening. Starting from September 1, the Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $499.99 in the United States, a $50 higher than its launch price. As both Sony and Microsoft had already increased the prices of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, respectively, Nintendo following suit was only a matter of time. Difficult as it can be to see the bright side of these hikes related to tariffs and RAM shortages, Nintendo increased the console’s price the least among the three manufacturers; more importantly, the decision to postpone the application of the new price until September grants people a chance to pick up a console before then.
Still, the Switch 2 will become the most expensive console since the NES, adjusted for inflation. Right out of the gate, it was already one of the most costly systems in Nintendo’s history, but it used to be at least comparable to most other home consoles. After September 1, the Switch 2 will be the most expensive Nintendo console since the NES. If we take into account that it is a year into its life and just the base model, the Switch 2 is arguably the most expensive Nintendo console ever.
The CPI Inflation Calculator was used to calculate inflation.
Also, I’m only taking into consideration the standard version of consoles. So, not deluxe sets or bundles.
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The NES and Switch 2 Are The Most Expensive Nintendo Consoles…
… By A Wide Margin
As previously mentioned, the Switch 2 will be $499.99 come September 1, which is the most expensive Nintendo console if we do not adjust for inflation. However, if we take the latter into account, the NES’s $199 launch price in October 1985 translates to $604.53 in today’s money, putting it considerably higher than the current system. While the consoles are entering wildly different markets, they share some similarities that might explain why they are more expensive than the likes of the Nintendo 64 and GameCube.
The NES came out at a time when confidence in gaming was at an all-time low due to the 1983 crash, so Nintendo played things extra safe by launching the console as part of a Deluxe Set with the Zapper and R.O.B. Like this, the company could market it as a toy rather than a video game. Besides that, cartridges were expensive to manufacture due to the use of specialized chips. This isn’t exactly like the current RAM shortage, but the NES and Switch 2 both exist in circumstances that amplified their base price.
I have found conflicting reports regarding the NES’s launch price, and it might have been available for $180 ($546.81 in 2026).
Actually, The Switch 2 Will Likely Be The Most Expensive Nintendo Console Ever
The NES’s Launch Price Didn’t Last For Long
Now, there is a big elephant in the room that we need to discuss. For pretty much the first time in history, consoles are becoming more expensive during their lifespans, rather than going in the opposite direction. A year following the NES’s NA debut, you could already find it for a lower price; by 1987, $150 bundles were commonplace, which would come to about $430–450 when adjusted for inflation.
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Considering the situation the world is currently in, we are likely stuck with the current prices for the next few years, and that’s hoping things don’t become worse. Consequently, if we compare it to the 1-year prices of previous systems, the Switch 2 would be the most expensive Nintendo console ever.
The SNES launched in August 1991 for $199.99, which would be around $483 in 2026. So, fairly expensive, but still a bit cheaper than the NES and Switch 2.
The Switch 2 Will Be Way, Way More Expensive Than Every “3D” Nintendo Console
The Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, And Wii U Were Straight-Up Cheap In 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 |
Putting aside the Wii U, Nintendo generally kept its consoles around the $400 mark at launch, with the N64, Wii, and Switch essentially the same price despite dropping in three different decades. The GameCube was also a steal, coming in by far as the cheapest Nintendo home console of all time. Along with its many classic games, its price was another reason the GameCube should be considered an all-time great.
Now, even without the price increase, the Switch 2 is already more expensive than any of these systems, and by quite a margin compared to the likes of the GameCube and even the original Switch. With the price increase, there is really no comparison, and the console’s basic price is roughly the same as the Wii U Deluxe Set, along with being far more expensive than the Switch OLED.
The Wii U Deluxe Set was $349.99 in November 2012, which brings it to $502 when adjusted for inflation. The Switch OLED launched for $349.99 in October 2021, which translates to $417.84 in today’s money.
How About Handheld Consoles? Oh, The Switch 2 Is Levels Above The GBA Or 3DS
Seriously, They Are Not Even In The Same Ballpark
|
Console |
Release Period |
Launch Price |
Adjusted For Inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Game Boy |
July 1989 |
$89.99 |
$238.87 |
|
Game Boy 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 Lite |
September 2019 |
$199.99 |
$257.20 |
As a hybrid console, the Switch 2 cannot be directly compared to handhelds since it is meant to provide the best of both worlds. However, if we regard the Switch Lite as its own console, this is the first generation when Nintendo isn’t also supporting a dedicated portable system, meaning there is really no alternative to the Switch 2.
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Yes, players can stick to the original Switch and Switch Lite for the time being, but major new games for those consoles will gradually become rarer and rarer. If somebody wants to play a few of Nintendo’s big upcoming titles, they have to get a Switch 2 and cannot rely on a handheld system.
All these prices don’t take into account post-launch discounts. For instance, within 6 months, the 3DS had been reduced to $169.99, which is just $250 when adjusted for inflation.
How Will The Switch 2 Compare To The PS5 And Xbox Series X/S?
Honestly? Mostly Positively
Nintendo has existed in its own little bubble since the Wii, with its consoles not generally feeling like direct competitors for Sony and Microsoft’s systems. Although that is still the case with the Switch 2, it is the most competitive device since the GameCube era, especially since it caters more to major third-party games than the Wii U or Switch. Still, the Switch 2 is underpowered compared to the PS5 and Xbox Series X or even the Series S.
If we are talking just about price tags, the Switch 2 is arguably the best offer on the market, except for the Series S, and excluding the PC scene (which is more expensive than ever anyway). Sony and Microsoft raised the prices of all their consoles by a more significant margin than the Switch 2’s upcoming hike, and these are variants of systems that have been around for half a decade.
- The cheapest PS5 in 2026 is the Digital Edition Slim, which costs $599.99. The launch price was $449.99 in 2023 ($483.91 adjusted for inflation).
- The cheapest Xbox Series X in 2026 is the Digital Edition, which also costs $599.99. The launch price was $449.99 in 2024 ($470.73 adjusted for inflation).
- The cheapest Xbox Series S in 2026 is the 512GB model, which costs $399.99. The launch price was $299.99 in 2020 ($380.67 adjusted for inflation).
- Brand
-
Nintendo
- Original Release Date
-
June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
-
$449.99
- Operating System
-
Proprietary
