Nintendo has confirmed it has multiple unannounced Switch 2 games set for launch later this year, as the company responds to questions about its decision to raise console prices.
Last week, Nintendo confirmed it was hiking the Switch 2’s price globally, with changes set to take place this month in Japan, or on September 1 in North America and Europe. In the U.S., Switch 2 is going up by $50, from $449.99 to $499.99. In Canada, Switch 2 rises from $629.99 to $679.99. In Europe, Switch 2 goes up from €469.99 to €499.99.
The company had been under pressure from shareholders to up the cost of its console (which it has reportedly been selling at a loss, in a change from the Switch 1 era), even if it now expects to sell fewer Switch 2 consoles over the next 12 months than the machine’s first year on sale. This is a situation Nintendo has explained by suggesting that Switch 2 sales are simply stabilizing following the console’s explosive arrival.
Nintendo has also acknowledged the price hike will impact the console’s affordability — potentially pricing some customers out of a sale. It’s a delicate balance, and one that Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has now sought to explain in more detail during a recent investor meeting.
“We haven’t discussed the specific impact this price change will have on Nintendo Switch 2 sales, but we understand that it will raise the barrier to purchase to some extent,” Furukawa explained (via machine translation). “However, the most important thing in the gaming console business is to provide engaging gameplay that offers value beyond the price. We and our software partners will continue to release various titles, and we aim to expand the market by conveying these titles along with the new experiences unique to the Nintendo Switch 2.”
Today, Nintendo shares are down 8% since the company’s price rise announcement. The stock price has been falling steadily over the past year since its peak around the much-hyped Switch 2 launch. Now, it sits at its lowest since August 2024, and down 34% since the year began.
Nintendo Series Tier List
Nintendo Series Tier List
“The adoption rate of the Nintendo Switch 2 is higher than that of the Nintendo Switch,” Furukawa said in response to another investor question. “At this point, we have no particular concerns about its momentum. The fact that Pokémon Pokopia contributed to hardware sales reaffirmed that having software that customers want to play is an important factor in encouraging the transition to the Nintendo Switch 2.
“We have many new titles planned for the Nintendo Switch 2, and we will carefully convey the appeal of each title so that customers can transition to the Nintendo Switch 2 at their own timing,” he continued, before adding:
“Regarding the future, we are preparing a variety of new titles for Nintendo Switch 2, regardless of whether they are so-called major titles or not. In addition, we have new titles prepared for the second half of this fiscal year, in addition to those already announced, and we will provide details at the appropriate time.”
This comment will no doubt spark further speculation around the previously-leaked The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 port that Nintendo is now widely-expected to have waiting in the wings this Christmas.
The company already has a robust lineup of Switch 2 games due to launch over the coming months, including Yoshi and the Mysterious Book on May 21, Star Fox on June 25, Rhythm Heaven Groove on July 2 (also available on Switch 1) and Splatoon Raiders on July 23. Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave has also been confirmed to launch this year some point, and fans are also expecting FromSoftware exclusive The Duskbloods.
Finally, Furukawa was also asked to explain why the Switch 2 price hike was necessary, rather than continuing to subsidize the console to the extent it has. His response was, essentially, that operating costs have risen permanently, rather than the current economic climate being a blip.
“If the cost increase were temporary and expected to subside relatively quickly, we could have pursued corporate efforts such as improving production efficiency and aimed to expand the installed base while maintaining the hardware price,” Furukawa suggested. “However, given the recent surge in component prices, particularly memory, and the trends in exchange rates and oil prices, we believe that these market environment changes are expected to continue for the medium to long term.
“Therefore, we believe that maintaining the previous price would significantly worsen the profitability of the hardware, potentially impacting our medium to long-term business operations. In order to sustainably grow our gaming console business, it is necessary to maintain a healthy revenue structure when considering the business as a whole. Therefore, although it was a difficult decision, we have decided to pass on a portion of the costs to the sales price.”
Last week, a group of Nintendo fans confirmed they had filed a class-action lawsuit demanding that any forthcoming tariff refunds received by the company are returned to customers, who have paid higher prices on Switch 2 accessories and Switch 1 consoles over the course of the past year, long before the console itself is raised in price.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
