Nintendo Approves Switch 2 Price Hike Due to Memory Costs, Analyst

Key Takeaways

1. Concerns about a potential price increase for the Switch 2 due to rising memory costs are being downplayed by Nintendo’s President, Shuntaro Furukawa.
2. Industry expert Matthew Ball believes that Nintendo may have already raised the console’s price without making it obvious to consumers.
3. The shortage of components, particularly DRAM, is impacting the availability of bundles like the Mario Kart World SKU, which may indicate a price increase for the Switch 2.
4. Nintendo’s “bring your own storage” policy is leading to additional costs for consumers, as many games consume a significant portion of the console’s internal storage.
5. Ball suggests that Nintendo may consider raising subscription rates for services like Nintendo Switch Online to mitigate the financial impact of rising costs.

With the surge in AI technology causing memory prices to rise, some enthusiasts are worried about a potential increase in the Switch 2’s price. However, Nintendo’s President, Shuntaro Furukawa, has downplayed these concerns recently. On the other hand, industry expert Matthew Ball thinks that Nintendo has already effectively raised the console’s price without making it obvious.

Component Shortages Impacting Consumers

In a conversation with The Game Business, Ball discussed how the shortage of components is affecting players. When he talked about the handheld device, he said:

“People aren’t fully aware that the Switch 2 has seen a significant price increase. Nintendo has managed to conceal it so far, but they might not be able to keep it hidden for much longer.”

The standard model of the console is priced at $449.99 or €469.99 in many parts of Europe. Yet, a version that comes bundled with a game is often hard to find in various stores. The company stopped producing the Mario Kart World bundle at the end of 2025, and the Pokémon Legends: Z-A option is also quite scarce.

Memory Costs Affecting Bundles

Describing the situation as “mainly a DRAM issue,” Ball argues that rising memory costs have shortened the availability of the Mario Kart World SKU. The $499.99 bundle had offered buyers a $30 discount compared to buying the game separately. He suggests that this ultimately meant a “price hike for the 85% of customers who buy Mario Kart.”

The absence of an announced replacement package from Nintendo might support the theory of a price increase for the Switch 2. Although, at the console’s release date in June 2025, fans were aware that the deal with the kart racing game was meant to be temporary. Tariffs played a role, but it’s possible that the company did not anticipate the soaring memory costs at that time.

Rising Costs for Nintendo Fans

Despite its popularity, players are not obligated to buy Mario Kart World. Nevertheless, Ball points out other factors contributing to the rising costs of supporting Nintendo. He highlights the “bring your own storage” policy, which is necessary due to the limited space of the handheld.

Games for the Switch 2, like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, can use up more than a third of the system’s internal storage. With AI data centers also affecting the prices of NAND flash memory, it seems unlikely that MicroSD Express cards will become cheaper anytime soon.

Ball thinks that Nintendo might explore other options to avoid a noticeable increase in the price of the Switch 2. One idea could be to raise the rates for Nintendo Switch Online, following in the footsteps of Sony with PlayStation Plus.

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