Nintendo hiked the price of the original Switch citing 'market conditions,' but did not raise the price of the Switch 2
The price increases will officially take effect on August 3 and are being implemented 'based on market conditions,' the Japanese company said in a post on its website. While Nintendo did not specify the new prices, US retailers have already begun adjusting them. For example, the original Switch, previously priced at $299, now costs $339. Similarly, the Switch OLED has risen from $349 to $399.
Nintendo has faced pressure to raise prices on its products in part due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The company manufactures most of its products in countries like China and Vietnam, and then imports devices such as the Switch into the US.
While Nintendo has increased prices for the original Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED, it has not changed the price of the Switch 2 or its games. This decision is understandable, as the original Switch is nearing the end of its lifecycle, and consumer interest, particularly at retail is relatively low. As a result, the price hike is unlikely to have a major impact.
However, Nintendo's choice not to raise the price of the Switch 2 appears to be a strategic one. Raising the price of a new console, especially one that has been a major hit and remains in limited supply could negatively affect the long-term sales performance of the Switch 2.
The Switch 2 already carries a higher base price of $450, and its games also cost more than previous generations. Increasing the price at this early stage, given that the console has been on the market for barely a few months, could potentially hurt sales momentum.
'However, please note that price adjustments may be necessary in the future,' the company added.
Earlier on Friday, Nintendo reported its fiscal first-quarter earnings and announced that sales of the Switch 2 console have reached 5.82 million units since its release on June 5. While the company has maintained its forecast of 15 million Switch 2 units sold this fiscal year, many analysts suggest that the estimate may be conservative, given the better-than-expected performance of the Switch 2.
On Friday, the Trump administration unveiled a new wave of 'reciprocal' tariffs on several countries, with rates ranging from 10 percent to 41 percent. Sony Corp's PlayStation 5 and Microsoft's Xbox Series X/S have seen price increases in several markets.
Anuj Bhatia is a personal technology writer at indianexpress.com who has been covering smartphones, personal computers, gaming, apps, and lifestyle tech actively since 2011. He specialises in writing longer-form feature articles and explainers on trending tech topics. His unique interests encompass delving into vintage tech, retro gaming and composing in-depth narratives on the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. He covers major international tech conferences and product launches from the world's biggest and most valuable tech brands including Apple, Google and others. At the same time, he also extensively covers indie, home-grown tech startups. Prior to joining The Indian Express in late 2016, he served as a senior tech writer at My Mobile magazine and previously held roles as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. Anuj holds a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. You can find Anuj on Linkedin.
Email: anuj.bhatia@indianexpress.com ... Read More
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