Switch 2's Launch Price: Not the Priciest Among Nintendo Consoles

When the Nintendo Switch 2 was announced with a price tag of $450 USD, it certainly raised eyebrows, marking a significant increase over previous Nintendo consoles. This higher price point can be attributed to rising production costs and various economic factors such as tariffs, which analysts had anticipated would push the price to at least $400 USD.

What truly shocked many was the pricing of Switch 2 games, which not only reached the new standard of $70 USD but also went as high as $80 USD for titles like Mario Kart World. When considering additional accessories necessary for the complete Switch 2 experience, the total cost becomes quite substantial.

To put the Switch 2's pricing into perspective, let's look at how it compares to previous Nintendo consoles when adjusted for inflation:

NES

The NES, launched in 1985 for $179 USD, would cost a staggering $523 USD in 2025 dollars. Despite the original price seeming like a bargain, inflation paints a different picture.

SNES

In 1991, the SNES hit the market at $199 USD, which, when adjusted for inflation, comes out to $460 USD today. This represents a slight increase over the NES in today's terms.

Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64, which introduced 3D gaming in 1996, also started at $199 USD. Adjusted for inflation, it would be $400 USD in 2025.

Nintendo GameCube

The GameCube, released in 2001 at $199 USD, would cost $359 USD today. Its games will be available on the Switch 2 via the Nintendo Switch Online classic library.

Wii

The Wii, a groundbreaking motion-controlled console released in 2006, was priced at $249 USD, translating to about $394 USD in 2025.

Wii U

The less successful Wii U was released in 2012 for $299 USD, which equates to $415 USD in today's money, closely aligning with the Switch 2's pricing.

Nintendo Switch

The highly successful Nintendo Switch, launched in 2017 for $299 USD, would cost $387 USD today. This is still less than the Switch 2's price when it launches on June 5.

When adjusted for inflation, the original NES becomes the most expensive Nintendo console ever launched. However, this historical perspective doesn't necessarily make the Switch 2's price more palatable.

Credit: IGN

Game Pricing

The Switch 2's game prices were another surprise, with titles like Mario Kart World at $80 USD and Donkey Kong Bananza at $70 USD (or $65 digitally). Comparing these to the early NES games, where prices varied widely, some games cost up to $45 USD in the early '90s, which is $130 USD in 2025 dollars. Despite this, there's speculation that game prices may rise further.

The Switch 2's pricing is at the higher end of Nintendo's spectrum, surpassed only by the NES and SNES when adjusted for inflation. Economic factors are clearly a driving force behind this, as evidenced by a cheaper, region-locked version of the Switch 2 for Japan, priced at 49,980 JPY or $340 USD.

Comparison to Other Consoles

When comparing the Switch 2 to other gaming consoles, we see interesting parallels:

PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2, launched in 2000 at $299 USD, would cost $565 USD in 2025, making it more expensive than the Switch 2 when adjusted for inflation.

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360, released in 2005 for $299 USD, would translate to about $500 USD today.

Console prices adjusted for inflation. The PS3 was notably expensive! Image credit: IGN

The Switch 2's price, while high, is not out of line with other consoles when inflation is considered. For more in-depth analysis, check out IGN's hands-on with the Switch 2 and discussions with analysts on the factors driving these costs.