1. Nintendo is raising the prices of its Switch hardware lineup globally, starting with Japan in May 2026, followed by North America, Canada, and Europe.
2. The price increases for the Switch consoles range from approximately ¥10,000 to $50, with the Switch 2 in Japan increasing from ¥49,980 to ¥59,980 and in the US from $449.99 to $499.99.
3. Subscription prices for Nintendo Switch Online, including the Expansion Pack, will also increase across nearly all plans starting July 2026.
Global Memory Crisis and Its Effect on Gaming Hardware Prices
With the ongoing problems in the memory chip market, many makers have no choice but to bump up prices on some of their gadgets. Some companies are even delaying advanced device releases because production costs are just too high. Nintendo is the latest to join this trend by announcing new prices on their gaming hardware lines.
Price Changes in Japan
Initially, these changes hit Japan the hardest. Beginning on May 25, 2026, the Nintendo Switch 2 in Japanese language will be sold at ¥59,980 which is a significant jump from ¥49,980. The company said that for multi-language versions available through My Nintendo Store, the price will stay the same for now. The older Nintendo Switch consoles are also getting more expensive. The OLED model will now cost ¥47,980 instead of ¥37,980, and the original Switch goes up from ¥32,978 to ¥43,980. The Switch Lite will also see a rise from ¥21,978 to ¥29,980.
International Price Adjustments
Moving beyond Japan, Nintendo also announced price increases for the Switch 2 in other countries like the US, Canada, and Europe. In the US, the cost jumps from $449.99 to $499.99 starting from September 1, 2026. Over in Canada, the price will be changing from $629.99 to $679.99. And in Europe, the price on the official store shifts from €469.99 to €499.99. These raises reflect the global pressure from rising production costs affecting the gaming industry.
Subscription Services Are Not Left Out
The increase in prices extends to Nintendo Switch Online services too. From July 1, 2026, nearly every plan will see a hike. The annual individual plan will now cost ¥3,000 up from ¥2,400, and the family plan will go from ¥4,500 to ¥5,800. The Plus expansion pack memberships are also more pricey, with the alone yearly membership rising from ¥4,900 to ¥5,900. Family plans for the expansion now cost ¥9,900 instead of ¥8,900. Customers will have to pay more for access to online multiplayer, save data cloud services, and other features Nintendo offers.