Nintendo Switch 2 price leak risks the most expensive Nintendo console ever – Gear Nuke
Nintendo Switch 2 news is putting the price at $400 – let’s see how it compares to launches like the Switch, Wii, SNES Wii U, N64, and Game Cube.
James Binns
Published: Mar 2, 2025 Research on previous launches, allowing for inflation suggests that the Nintendo Switch 2 price could be the highest price launch for a console the Japanese giant has ever attempted.
The best estimate for the Nintendo Switch 2 price sits at $400, based on retail leaks and consistent reports from industry insiders. This pricing places Nintendo’s next console in a competitive position against more powerful hardware like the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, both of which frequently drop to similar price points during sales.
While Nintendo has never prioritized raw power over innovation, a minimum $400 launch price means the Switch 2 will need to deliver significant improvements in performance, features, or software lineup to justify the increase. The original Nintendo Switch launched at $300 back in 2017, making this a notable price jump – one that could raise expectations for improved battery life, upgraded graphics, and better Joy-Con functionality.
Nintendo’s home console pricing has shifted dramatically over the decades, often reflecting changes in gaming technology, economic conditions, and player expectations. Screen Rant ran some interesting data on console pricing. The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) launched in the mid-’80s for $180, which, when adjusted for inflation to 2022 pricing, would cost around $428 today – more than what’s expected for the Switch 2.
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) followed in 1991 at $199, which adjusts to about $414 in today’s money. Interestingly, both of Nintendo’s earliest consoles had a price point close to what’s rumored for the Switch 2, reinforcing the idea that Nintendo is returning to a premium pricing model for its hardware.
In contrast, the Nintendo 64 and GameCube marked a more affordable era for Nintendo, launching at $200 and $199 respectively, with adjusted inflation pricing putting them at $329 and $290 in today’s terms.
The Nintendo Wii, which revolutionized motion-controlled gaming, hit the market at $250, adjusting to about $320. The Wii U, widely considered one of Nintendo’s least successful consoles, debuted at $300, adjusting to $336.
Then came the Nintendo Switch in 2017 at $300, a price that remains competitive even today. Adjusted for inflation, that comes out to $317, making it the only console on this list that has actually gotten slightly cheaper in real-world value over time.
If the Switch 2 does land at $400 or even $450, it could be Nintendo’s most expensive console ever in real-dollar terms. However, given the rising cost of hardware development, higher component prices, and Nintendo’s efforts to stay competitive with Sony and Microsoft, this increase isn’t surprising. It also highlights the industry-wide trend of rising gaming costs, with more expensive consoles, games, and subscription services becoming the norm.
While $400 might seem steep for a Nintendo console, it’s still significantly cheaper than its direct competitors. The PS5 and Xbox Series X both launched at $499, making Nintendo’s offering the most affordable next-gen option – assuming it delivers the kind of upgrades that justify the price.
Update: Eagle-eyed Gear Nuke reader Curtis M. has been in touch. He’s got better stats that throw into doubt our claim. D’oh. The info in this report came from digitaltrends, but was calculated in 2022. New info calculated using US Bureau of labor statistics tool on bls.gov tells a different story, driven by recent inflation spikes. Over to Curtis…
“NES released in July 1985 as the Famicom in Japan, but not clear exactly when in 1986 it was open for wide release. Mid 80s as described in the article is fine, I will use July 1986 for inflation calculation.
Your article says $180, a number of sources agree, but and some claimed $199. I can’t say for sure what the truth is there, I’ll answer both.
$180 in July 1986 is $522.20 today (as of January 2025, most recent data. Assume today means January 2025 from here on)
$199 in July 1986 is $577.32 today.
SNES released in the US 1991 at $199 – $199 in September 1991 is $460.76 today.
N64 released in the US in September 1996 – $200 in September 1996 is $402.62 today.
GameCube released in the US in September 2001 – $199 in September 2001 is $354.55 today.
Wii released in the US in November 2006 – $250 in November 2006 is $394.12 today.
Wii U released in the US in November 2012 – $300 in November 2012 is $413.96 today.
Switch released in the US in March 2017 – $300 in March 2017 $386.35 today.
With the exception of the slightly cheaper gamecube and their first offering, Nintendo has kept their inflation adjusted price rather consistently floating around the $400 mark. Their numbers also collect around “pretty numbers” for the time they are released. $400/$399 seems even more likely in this light.”
Thanks Curtis!
Can’t wait for Nintendo Switch 2? Go check the Pocket Tactics guide to the best Switch games to play today.
James Binns
Source: https://www.gearnuke.com/nintendo-switch-2-price-leak-vs-previous-nintendo-consoles
