Apr 08, 2025 10:56:00

Nintendo explains why the Nintendo Switch 2 console and games are so expensive

The Nintendo Switch 2 , which Nintendo plans to release on June 5, 2025, will be priced at 49,980 yen (tax included) for the Japanese/domestic version, while the price of 'Mario Kart World,' which will be released on the same day as the Nintendo Switch 2, will be 8,980 yen (tax included) for the download version and 9,980 yen (tax included) for the packaged version. There have been complaints overseas that this price setting is 'too expensive,' and the number of media inquiries to Nintendo is increasing.

Nintendo explains why Switch 2 hardware and software cost so much - Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/04/nintendo-explains-why-switch-2-hardware-and-software-prices-cost-so-much/

The Nintendo Switch 2 will be priced at $449.99 in the US.

Doug Bowser, president of Nintendo of America, Nintendo's American subsidiary, spoke to

CNBC shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump introduced reciprocal tariffs . In the interview, Bowser said, 'We're still trying to understand the tariffs and what impact they might have,' and 'We feel that the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 is the right price for consumers and the right value proposition for the device that we're making.'

With the Wii U, Nintendo tried to make a profit from software sales while incurring losses from hardware sales. Bowser said that he does not intend to take a similar strategy with the Nintendo Switch 2, saying, 'We are trying to find ways to maintain the profit margins on the hardware, even if they are lower than the profit margins on the software,' and 'We want to make sure that customers realize the value of their investment in Nintendo devices.'

The reciprocal tariffs introduced by President Trump will increase the cost of importing game consoles manufactured in Vietnam and China to the United States. If that happens, it will be difficult for Nintendo to maintain the profit margin of the Nintendo Switch 2 in the United States, Ars Technica points out.

Bowser said that 'we've had time to build up inventory globally,' and revealed that some Nintendo Switch 2s have already been imported into the U.S. This could delay the economic impact of the reciprocal tariffs.

To justify the Nintendo Switch 2's price, Nintendo cited upgraded hardware specifications and new features such as 'game chat,' a calling feature available on the Nintendo Switch 2.

'Especially in this day and age, adding technology to a system means additional costs,' Bill Trinen, vice president of Player & Product Experience at Nintendo of America,

told Polygon. Trinen also said , 'Unfortunately, we live in a time when inflation is affecting everything,' revealing that rising prices are affecting the Nintendo Switch 2's selling price.

The selling price of the Nintendo Switch in the United States is $299, while the selling price of the Nintendo Switch 2 is $449, so there is a difference of about $150. However, using the inflation calculator CPI Inflation Calculator , $299 in 2017 (when the Nintendo Switch was released) is calculated to be equivalent to about $391 in 2025, so the price increase rate is at a reasonable level, Ars Technica points out. Still, considering that the selling price of the Nintendo Switch to the Nintendo Switch 2 has increased by 50%, 'it is inevitable that some people find it unacceptable,' he also wrote.

In addition, in the United States, Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive titles will be sold for $70 (about 10,300 yen) to $80 (about 11,800 yen). This is also a price increase from the selling price of Nintendo Switch software, but regarding this, Torinen said, 'I still have an advertisement on my phone that I found when Super Donkey Kong was released on SNES for $59 (about 8,700 yen) in 1993. The price of the game has been stable for a very long time,' pointing out that the selling price of game software has not changed for a long time.

President Bowser also mentioned the pricing of Mario Kart World, saying, 'We're not trying to establish a pricing benchmark. Rather than being an industry representative, we set the price to determine whether Nintendo is doing the right thing with its products or how we should price our products overall.'

'We look at every game and every experience and we determine the right price based on that experience,' Bowser said. Trinen added, 'We take an approach that looks at what the experience is, what players enjoy about the game, how long the game is, how much experience there is, how deep it is, and so on. And we determine the right price based on what the value of that experience is.'

Nate Bildorff, vice president of product development and publishing at Nintendo of America, told Digital Trends that the pricing of Nintendo Switch 2 software is not something that you check off a box on an Excel spreadsheet and then add $5 to the price each time. 'There are a number of factors that go into each one that are not easily quantifiable, so I think the pricing will be quite different for each piece of software ,' he said.