The Nintendo Switch 2 is shaping up to be Nintendo’s priciest gaming console, with a potential price range of $399 to $499. Despite the increase in cost, industry insiders are optimistic about its sales performance, forecasting strong demand. If all goes according to plan, we could see the Switch 2 hitting the market as early as June 2025.
Recently, several analysts have weighed in with predictions about the Switch 2’s launch details, such as its potential release window, pricing strategy, and production expenses. Their speculations will likely be put to the test by early spring 2025. Mark your calendars for March 16; by then, it will have been two months since Nintendo announced the new console. So far, the company has been tight-lipped about further specifics but promises to reveal more during an April 2 Nintendo Direct, which will focus entirely on the upcoming console.
Ahead of this event, Bloomberg sought insights from analysts to clarify some specifics of the Switch 2 launch. The expectations are mixed, with predictions pointing to the Switch 2 as Nintendo’s costliest console yet. Analysts such as Serkan Toto from Japan estimate a starting price of $399, which marks a steep 33% increase from the $299 price tag of the original Switch. Agreeing with this forecast are UBS Securities’ Yijia Zhai and Sanford C. Bernstein’s Robin Zhu. Meanwhile, Toyo Securities’ Hideki Yasuda expects similar pricing. Macquarie Capital’s Hiroshi Yamashina takes a more cautious stance, predicting a price span of $399 to $449.
The anticipated cost hike is attributed to several factors, with inflation as a primary suspect. Furthermore, the advanced hardware expected in the Switch 2 is set to escalate production costs in comparison to its predecessor. Yasuda forecasts that the upcoming console’s Nvidia system-on-chip could cost up to $150, significantly higher than the estimated $80 per unit for the Tegra X1 chip in the original Switch. Thus, a $499 price tag could very well be plausible.
In the U.S., tariffs introduced during the Trump administration could also play into the pricing, although Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has downplayed their potential financial impact, suggesting any effects would be minimal.
Even with the price increase, experts anticipate that the Switch 2 will enjoy robust sales. Analyst Robin Zhu estimates that Nintendo plans to have between 6 to 8 million units ready at launch, potentially marking the most significant console release ever. Additionally, Zhu has projected that Nintendo might manufacture up to 20 million units in 2025. Speaking with Bloomberg in mid-March, Zhu indicated a targeted release for June 2025, adding to the anticipation for this eagerly awaited console.
