Switch 2 Priced Competitively Among Nintendo Consoles at Launch

The announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2's $450 USD price tag certainly raised eyebrows, given that it's higher than what we've traditionally seen from Nintendo. However, with rising production costs and economic factors such as tariffs, industry analysts had anticipated the Switch 2 to be priced at around $400 USD at the minimum.

Perhaps an even bigger surprise was the pricing of Switch 2 games, which not only match the new $70 USD standard for new releases but can go as high as $80 USD, as seen with titles like Mario Kart World. When you factor in the cost of various accessories to get the full Switch 2 experience, the total investment can be quite significant.

But how does the Switch 2's price compare when adjusted for inflation against previous Nintendo consoles? And how does it stack up against other gaming systems? The answers might surprise you.

Nintendo Switch 2 Price Vs Previous Nintendo Consoles

NES

The NES, launched in 1985, had a starting price of $179 USD. While that might seem like a steal now, adjusted for inflation to 2025, it equates to a whopping $523 USD. That's a hefty sum for nostalgia!

SNES

In 1991, the SNES hit the market at $199 USD, just $20 more than the NES. Accounting for inflation, that translates to $460 USD in 2025 terms.

Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64, marking Nintendo's foray into 3D gaming, was released in 1996 at the same $199 price point as the SNES. Adjusted for inflation, that's about $400 USD today.

Nintendo GameCube

The GameCube, whose games will be accessible on the Switch 2 via Nintendo Switch Online's classic library, debuted in 2001 for $199 USD, or $359 USD when adjusted for inflation to 2025.

Wii

Nintendo's innovative motion-controlled Wii, which became a global hit, was released in 2006 for $249 USD, translating to approximately $394 USD in today's dollars.

Wii U

The Wii U, which didn't achieve the same success as its predecessor, was launched in 2012 at $299 USD, which equates to about $415 USD in 2025, bringing it closer to the Switch 2's price range.

Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch, one of Nintendo's most successful consoles, was released in 2017 for $299 USD. Adjusted for inflation, that's about $387 USD today, still lower than the Switch 2's upcoming price on its June 5 release.

When you look at it this way, the original NES stands out as the most expensive Nintendo console launch ever, when adjusted for inflation. Does this perspective make the Switch 2's price any easier to digest? Probably not.

Credit: IGN

But what about the games?

While the Switch 2's price was somewhat expected by industry watchers, the game pricing was a major shock. Games like Mario Kart World are set to retail at $80 USD, while others like Donkey Kong Bananza are priced at $70 USD (or $65 digitally).

Comparing these prices to the earliest NES cartridges is tricky due to the wide variation in prices back then. In the early '90s, an NES game could cost anywhere from $34 USD to $45 USD, which translates to $98 USD to $130 USD in 2025 dollars, respectively. Despite these figures, many believe that game prices could rise even further in the future.

The Switch 2's pricing is on the higher end of Nintendo's historical range, surpassed only by the NES and SNES. Real-world economic factors seem to play a significant role in this increase, as evidenced by Nintendo's announcement of a cheaper, region-locked Switch 2 for Japan, priced at 49,980 JPY or about $340 USD.

How Switch 2's Price Compares to Other Consoles

PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2, the best-selling console of all time, was released in 2000 for $299 USD. Adjusted for inflation, that's a staggering $565 USD in 2025.

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360, Microsoft's most successful console at the time, was launched in 2005 for $299 USD, which would be about $500 USD in 2025.

Console prices adjust for inflation. The PS3 was super expensive! Image credit: IGN

So, that's how the Switch 2's price compares to its predecessors and some of its rivals. For more insights, check out IGN's hands-on experience with the Switch 2, as well as details on games like Mario Kart World. Also, don't miss our discussion with analysts on why the Switch 2 and its associated products are priced as they are.