Nintendo said tariffs were not included in its original U.S. Switch 2 price-setting decision in 2025—not that tariffs could never affect prices. The company later raised the U.S. system’s recommended retail price from $449.99 to $499.99 effective September 1, 2026. Nintendo cited a changed market environment for that revision, but its public materials do not establish tariffs as the sole cause.
What Nintendo said about tariffs in 2025
Nintendo announced the Switch 2’s original U.S. system price of $449.99 on April 2, 2025. In an April 7 interview with The Verge, then Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said tariffs that were already in place had not been factored into that original price. He distinguished that decision from the newly announced tariffs, saying, “The news is fresh, and like many companies right now, we are actively assessing what the impact may be.”
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 System | $499.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Nintendo Switch 2 System with Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Bundle | $568.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle with Bonus HDMI Cable & Screen Cleaning Cloth | $619.00 | Buy on Amazon |
That was a statement about how Nintendo set the initial price and its assessment at that time. It was not a promise to keep the price unchanged, nor a claim that tariffs had no effect on Nintendo’s business or costs.
Did Nintendo raise the Switch 2 price?
Yes. Nintendo of America’s official U.S. notice says the system’s U.S. MSRP rose from $449.99 to $499.99 effective September 1, 2026—a $50 increase. These are the system prices, not a claim about the price of every bundle or retailer listing.
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| U.S. system MSRP | Price | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Original price | $449.99 | April 2025 announcement |
| Revised price | $499.99 | September 1, 2026 |
Nintendo’s U.S. announcement and its May 8, 2026 regional notice describe the revisions as a response to changes in the market environment expected to continue over the medium to long term. They do not say that tariffs alone caused the U.S. increase. The public notices also do not provide a cost breakdown or an independent calculation of how much tariffs contributed, if anything, to the revised price.
What Nintendo’s 2025 financial forecast adds
Nintendo’s May 9, 2025 financial results briefing helps explain why the tariff question remained relevant after the original price announcement. For its consolidated forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026, Nintendo used tariff rates effective April 10, 2025, and forecast a negative profit impact of “several tens of billions of yen.” That was a forecast, not a report of realized costs.
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- The next evolution of the Nintendo Switch system
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Supports up to 4K resolution** when using a compatible game and TV connected via the included Nintendo Switch 2 dock
- Nintendo Switch 2 plays compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games.***
The briefing also said Nintendo would consider appropriate price adjustments if its tariff assumptions changed, taking market conditions and other factors into account. This is consistent with the distinction between tariffs not being included in the original price decision and Nintendo later considering how changing conditions might affect pricing. It does not identify tariffs as the specific cause of the 2026 U.S. revision.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the Japanese price is different
Nintendo’s 2026 notice also set a Japan-only Japanese-language Switch 2 system price of ¥59,980, effective May 25, 2026. The same notice listed U.S. and European price revisions for September 1. These are regional prices for distinct markets and, in Japan’s case, a specifically identified Japanese-language system; they should not be treated as a direct currency conversion or interchangeable MSRP.
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For a buyer, the practical answer is to check the current price and exact product description at the retailer: the official U.S. system MSRP is $499.99 as of September 1, 2026, while an advertised bundle or retailer price may differ.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
