[UPDATED] Nintendo is Raising The Price of Physical Switch 2 Games

Update 3/26 – 9:00am

Nintendo has since clarified their statement, but while this states their intent is to NOT increase prices of physical games, this doesn’t exactly indicate they will lower the prices of digital games. Nintendo has already introduced $80 games to us through Switch 2 editions of Switch 1 games and Mario Kart World. Could this mean Nintendo’s variable pricing could determine more games are valued at $80 in the future? The jury is unfortunately still not out since our only example is a smaller scale 2D title. Full statement via IGN:

“The cost of physical games is not going up.

“This means that when Nintendo sells digital versions of Nintendo published games exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 to consumers in the U.S., those prices will have an MSRP that is lower than their physical counterparts.

“Retail partners set their own prices for physical and digital games, and pricing for each title may vary.”

While this clarifies their intent is to NOT increase prices of physical games, this doesn’t exactly indicate they will lower the prices of digital games

Original Intro

Nintendo is by far one of the hardest companies to root for in terms of having a successful and unproblematic first year with one of their most highly anticipated consoles of all time, the Switch 2. It feels just like yesterday when people were spamming “Drop the price!” in the comments of their videos, and now, after almost an entire year, they are, in fact, raising them. If I knew Mario’s 40th anniversary was going to be this exciting, I would have bought more of the company’s stock.

In a public newsletter, Nintendo announced that it will be raising the prices of its first-party physical games, already mirroring the decisions made in its EU counterpart when it released Mario Kart World for €90 physical and €80 digital. This price change is going to take effect in May of 2026, with Yoshi and the Mysterious Book rising to a full $70 for the physical copy as opposed to $60 for digital.

As of right now, it is unclear if existing first-party Switch 2 titles will be affected and at what rate. Are we finally going to see the jump to a consistent $80 per game? Will dedicated switch 2 versions go up to $90? We will find out soon.

Why, Nintendo?! WHY?!

This comes in the advent of a few different situations. Tariffs already had a looming presence over Nintendo products, seeing Chinese-manufactured goods raising in their prices (as well as a well-timed lawsuit). The ever-increasing AI bubble is seeing general prices of memory skyrocket, which doesn’t jive with the high-speed 64 GB cards used in the Switch 2 cartridges.

Compounded with all of this is the indisputable fact that Nintendo really, really likes money, which I know is a complete shocker to us all, and it truly needs to be studied why a good-hearted company like Nintendo would do such a thing. I really think Nintendo should change their mascot to a better, fatter, more yellow version if you catch my drift.