Could it be cheaper than expected? (YouTube)
Nintendo’s president has discussed some of the factors involved in the Switch 2 price, as he rules out a reduction for the original console.
One of the big unknowns around the Switch 2 is the console’s price, which is expected to be revealed during a Nintendo Direct on April 2, 2025.
That hasn’t stopped speculation around what the cost will be though, with rumours ranging from £300 to £450. For context, the original Switch costs £259.99 and the OLED model costs £309.99, so there’s a strong chance it’ll be more expensive than those.
While we still don’t have any concrete details, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has discussed some of the considerations around the console’s pricing, and hinted that it might be more affordable than many expect.
Speaking during a Q&A, as part of Nintendo’s Q3 earnings call, Furukawa was asked if the company had changed its stance on what they consider an acceptable price point for consoles – although while they talked about various economic factors they didn’t mention anything about US tariffs.
In his answer (as translated by Google from the Japanese Q&A), Furukawa cites inflation in Japan and the exchange rate as being considerably different since the Switch launched in 2017.
However, he also notes that Nintendo has to consider ‘the affordability that consumers expect from Nintendo products’ – which is a promising sign that the increase won’t be too astronomical.
It’s bad news though for anyone hoping for a price cut for the original Switch, when the next console does launch, as Furukawa notes ‘there are no plans to change the price of Nintendo Switch hardware’.
While there’s a possibility that Furukawa is simply being coy, there’s perhaps little reason for Nintendo to drop the Switch price with games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A still on the horizon.
Nintendo has, however, cut its financial forecasts in recent months, after Switch sales last year fell below expectations, so it’s possible a price cut could happen if those games (and any other future titles) fail to give the system another boost.
Aside from the price, the other big question around the Switch 2 is when it will launch, with some insiders suggesting it could be June. But officially there’s no indication other than sometime this year.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is still coming to Switch this year (Nintendo)
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