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The biggest news story in gaming at the moment is easily the impending launch of the Switch 2 from Nintendo. While many people are trying to focus on the new features of the console, such as a built-in voice chat function and a suitably impressive display. However, the online discourse around the highly anticipated Nintendo console has focused on its hefty price tag. Is Nintendo just being greedy? How much of the high price of the Nintendo Switch 2 is down to the Trump Tariffs and how much is just good, old-fashioned inflation? We crunched the numbers so you don’t have to.

This is going to be a little bit of a history lesson with a little bit of math, so get ready to learn something today.

The Nintendo Switch 2 price compared to previous Nintendo systems

First, let’s establish the facts that we know right now. The Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $449 when it launches in June 2025. This is an increase from the original Switch, which cost just $299 at launch back in 2017. That is an increase of $150 in just one console generation. However, when you adjust for inflation, the Switch costs around $389. That is still a $60 increase in price, which is basically the equivalent of a new game… unless it is a Switch 2 game like Mario Kart World, in which case it will cost $80.

We went back a little bit further to 2012 when the Wii U was released. Back then, it also cost $299, which works out at around $415 at launch. That is certainly closer to the expected cost of the Switch 2. By comparison, the Switch, which went on to sell more than 150 million units over its lifespan, seems like an absolute steal.

I’m a firm believer that the Switch was priced lower than Nintendo wanted it to be because of the lackluster sales of the Wii U. The Wii sold more than 100 million units, compared to the paltry 13.5 million units of the Wii U. The Switch came out at a time when Nintendo was not in a strong position in the market. They needed their new console to be a big hit, so they kept the price point low to help drive sales.

A new Nintendo system in the year 2025

The video game landscape is much different today. The Nintendo Switch far exceeded expectations with 150 million units sold, compared to the PlayStation 5’s 70 million units and the Xbox Series X/S not quite reaching 30 million units. Nintendo is in a strong place in the market – they feel confident that the Switch 2 will sell well and have pushed the specs on the new console harder as a result. The 4K screen that can run at 120fps on a handheld is a thing of wizardry. That kind of technology will have pushed the development budget of the console and will increase the cost per unit.

Then there is the political climate that Nintendo is releasing the console into. Trump’s obsession with tariffs – and his penchant for changing trade policy when confronted by the slightest whiff of consequences – means that Nintendo doesn’t know how much it will actually cost them to ship the Switch 2 overseas. The cost of manufacturing the console is uncertain as components are becoming more difficult to import and export. The Switch 2 was probably priced at $449 to give the company some buffer against unpredictable tariffs in the US, though they still had to cancel their pre-order plans once Trump unveiled his new tariff policy on April 2, 2025 and created untold chaos in the international markets.

Why the Nintendo Switch 2 price isn't shocking despite what other people will tell you

I’m not here to defend a billion-dollar business. There is plenty that Nintendo has done that I disagree with, like the way they aggressively attack the emulation community who are trying to preserve gaming history. However, the price increase for the Switch 2 isn’t nearly as drastic as people are making it out to be. If anything, the Switch was underpriced to help Nintendo regain a dominant position in the market. Now that they have a huge market share and, after nearly a decade in development, have a more expensive console that is releasing into an economically uncertain environment.

Do I wish the Switch 2 was cheaper? Of course. Is the price as outrageous as online discussions will have you believe? Not if you look at the history of the company and its place in the industry. Am I still going to buy one before the end of 2025? Probably. I’m a Zelda fanboy who cannot be held accountable for my actions.

You don't need to beat the game to prepare for the next one—here are all the major new and upcoming games coming our way.