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In a sudden and unexpected move, the original Nintendo Switch and a host of accessories have seen a pricing increase.
More for last-gen
Starting off, we’ll say immediately that Nintendo hasn’t stated that the pricing will change for the just-released Switch 2. So fans planning on picking up a new console can rest easy (for now). However, if anyone out there wants to buy an original Switch console, a Switch Lite, or a Switch OLED, they’re going to have to adjust their budget.
There’s no other word that we can think of but ‘shocking’ when talking about a company raising prices on a last-generation piece of hardware, but that’s exactly what we’re looking at here. That’s right, Nintendo has increased the cost for all three of the previous generation of Switch units.
The move kicked off with moving the standard Switch from $299.99 USD to $339.99 USD. Meanwhile, the higher end Switch OLED was increased from $349.99 to $399.99, and the portable-only Switch Lite went from $199.99 to $229.99. Along with the hardware, Nintendo also boosted the price tags for Amiibo, (Switch) joy-con, and the company’s newish alarm clock, Alarmo. While none of the above are massive increases, they’re big enough to be noticeable.
What the overall cause might be wasn’t mentioned directly in the company’s brief statement, though Nintendo labeled the changes as coming in response to “market conditions” in the United States. As industry website GamesIndustry points out, there isn’t much that could be taken from that other than to assume that they’re referring to US tariffs.
Those continue to be adjusted by the nation, as current President Donald Trump attempts to rework global trade arrangements. Whatever your feelings are on that topic, tariffs adding import costs would likely impact Nintendo, so take it as you will.
Source: GamesIndustry
