For Nintendo fans in Japan, this is not happy news. On May 8, 2026, Nintendo said the Japanese-language Nintendo Switch 2 will rise from ¥49,980 to ¥59,980. The new price starts on May 25, 2026. Older Switch models in Japan will also go up on the same day, and Nintendo Switch Online in Japan will become more expensive on July 1, 2026. (nintendo.co.jp)
There is one interesting detail. The Nintendo Switch 2 Multi-Language System sold on My Nintendo Store will stay at the same price. When Switch 2 launched on June 5, 2025, Nintendo said the cheaper Japan-only model was designed to be more accessible because it supports only Japanese and only Japanese-region Nintendo Accounts. In other words, the low Japan price was special from the start. (nintendo.co.jp)
So, why are game consoles getting more expensive? Nintendo’s short answer is “changes in market conditions.” Earlier in 2026, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said memory prices were rising faster than expected. He also said many hardware purchases are made in U.S. dollars, so exchange rates matter too. If parts cost more, or the yen is weak, profits in Japan can fall. Reuters also reported that higher component costs, especially memory, plus tariffs, are expected to add about 100 billion yen in costs for Nintendo this financial year. (nintendo.co.jp)
Nintendo is not alone. In March 2026, Sony also raised PS5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal prices around the world, saying the global economic situation was putting pressure on costs. So a game console is not just a toy. It is built from expensive parts, and its price can change with the world economy. For players, that means the next big boss may be the price tag. (blog.playstation.com)










