Switch 2 price to rise $50 to $500 starting Sept. 1

Nintendo is making the Switch 2 more expensive in the U.S. — and the timing is not subtle. The standalone console goes from $449.99 to $499.99 on September 1, 2026. But before that date arrives, Nintendo is putting a softer landing in front of buyers with a bundle that includes a game and keeps the sticker under the new post-hike price. ### What exactly changed? Nintendo of America said on May 7 that the U.S. MSRP for the Nintendo Switch 2 will rise by $50 on September 1, from $449.99 to $499.99. Nintendo framed the move as a response to “market conditions” expected to last for the medium to long term. The original Switch line is not changing in this announcement. (nintendo.com) ### Why do the dates matter so much? Because Nintendo is creating a clear buy-now window. Until September 1, the standalone Switch 2 still sits at the old $449.99 price. That gives the company a few months to keep sales moving before the higher MSRP kicks in — and to steer shoppers toward bundles that feel like a deal even if the base console is about to get pricier. (nintendo.com) ### What is the bundle actually offering? Nintendo’s “Choose Your Game Bundle” pairs a Switch 2 with one full game download from a short list of Switch 2 exclusives: *Mario Kart World*, *Donkey Kong Bananza*, or *Pokémon Pokopia*. Nintendo says the package saves buyers up to $29.99 versus buying the system and game separately. The company hasn’t positioned it as a permanent new base price — more like a retail offer meant to make the pre-hike period easier to swallow. (nintendo.com) ### Why is “up to $29.99” the key phrase? Because that tells you Nintendo is not eating the whole price increase. Basically, the bundle softens the blow without undoing it. If the standalone machine becomes $499.99 in September, then a pre-hike bundle that includes a game for less than the future console-only price looks strong on paper. But it is still a controlled discount, not a broad price cut. (nintendo.com) ### Is this only about hardware? No — and that is the bigger pattern. In March, Nintendo also said new first-party digital games made for Switch 2 would start carrying different MSRPs from physical versions beginning in May 2026. That means Nintendo is adjusting more than one part of the Switch 2 business at once: console pricing, software pricing, and bundle structure. (nintendo.com) ### So what is Nintendo trying to do? Turns out this looks a lot like the shift from launch pricing to normalized pricing. Early in a console cycle, companies want low friction — simple price, clean message, fast adoption. Later, they start segmenting the offer: base hardware here, bundles there, software priced more selectively. Nintendo’s current setup does exactly that. The company can preserve momentum now, then raise per-unit revenue later. (nintendo.com) ### Who should care most? Anyone in the U.S. planning to buy a Switch 2 this summer. The practical difference is simple: buy before September 1 and the base console is $50 cheaper; buy a qualifying bundle before then and you may also get a game at a discount. Wait until after that date, and the entry price for the hardware alone is higher. (nintendo.com) ### Bottom line This is not just a random $50 bump. Nintendo is using a familiar playbook — announce the higher future price, keep a short pre-increase window open, and funnel attention toward bundles that make the transition feel less harsh. If you were already planning to buy a Switch 2, the cheap date to remember is September 1. (nintendo.com)