Nintendo Switch 2 Price Increase Likely: Here’s What We Know
If you’re still enjoying your old Nintendo Switch and see no need to upgrade to the Switch 2 for now, you might want to rethink that strategy. According to a report by Bloomberg, Nintendo is thinking of raising the price of its latest hybrid console, which launched on June 5, 2025, and currently costs $449. This is a response to the AI-driven chip shortage that could see the prices of TVs, smartphones, computers, consoles, and other RAM‑dependent devices go up.
The Switch 2 needs 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and with no signs of what the industry is calling “RAMmagedon” easing up, you may not have a lot of time to grab the Switch 2 at the current price.
Quick Reference: What You Need to Know
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Current price | $449 (base model) |
| Potential new price | $499 (estimated $50 increase) |
| Reason | Global LPDDR5 RAM shortage (AI‑driven demand) |
| Bundle discontinued | $499 Mario Kart World bundle ended December 2025 |
| Industry impact | Possible PS6 delay; Steam Machine pricing concerns |
Nintendo Has Already Secretly Raised the Price
In an interview with The Game Business, prominent industry analyst Matthew Ball said the price increase has secretly taken effect with the discontinuation of the $499 Nintendo Switch 2 + “Mario Kart World” bundle in December 2025.
According to Ball:
“Nintendo terminated the Switch 2 bundle with Mario Kart after three to four months. That’s really early. And I suspected it is primarily a DRAM thing. It’s $449 for the Switch 2. It’s $80 for Mario Kart.”
Ball explained that Nintendo has effectively “done a price increase for the 85% of customers that buy Mario Kart. They now have to spend $30 more. That’s getting close to a 10% increase.”
So if you were hoping to get the bundle to save on “Mario Kart World,” you’re already out of luck.
What Will the New Price Be?
| Source | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Niko Partners (Jan 2026) | $50 price increase (to $499) |
| Bloomberg | Official price hike likely due to RAM shortages |
| Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa | Concerned about Switch 2 profitability if RAM prices continue upward |
Broader Industry Impact
| Company / Product | Potential Impact |
|---|---|
| Sony PlayStation 6 | Possible delay to 2028 or 2029 due to skyrocketing RAM chip prices |
| Valve Steam Machine | Concern it may not launch with competitive pricing due to RAM shortages |
| Nintendo | Revenue grew 86% despite missing quarterly projections; RAM remains a challenge |
Why Is This Happening?
The global RAM shortage—dubbed “RAMmagedon”—is being driven by:
-
AI chip demand consuming massive amounts of memory production capacity
-
LPDDR5 RAM used in the Switch 2 being in high demand across smartphones, PCs, and data centers
-
No immediate signs of supply catching up with demand
Summary Table: Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Current Switch 2 price | $449 |
| What’s changing | Likely $50 increase (to $499) |
| Why | AI‑driven LPDDR5 RAM shortage |
| Already changed | $499 Mario Kart World bundle discontinued |
| Industry impact | Potential PS6 delay; Steam Machine pricing concerns |
| Best advice | Buy now if you want it at current price |
Conclusion
If you’ve been on the fence about buying a Nintendo Switch 2, the window to get it at the current $449 price may be closing. With RAM shortages showing no signs of easing and Nintendo already having effectively raised the price by discontinuing its bundle, a formal price increase seems imminent.
