Nintendo Switch 2: Nearly 20 Million Units, Price Rises to $500 — What It Means for the Console Market
Switch 2 за $500 — это первый раз, когда Nintendo устанавливает флагманскую консоль на уровне 80% от «премиального» порога
Record Sales — And a Price Hike
The Switch 2 sold 19.86 million units in its first fiscal year (April 2025–March 2026) — faster than any previous Nintendo hardware. Simultaneously, Nintendo announced a price increase to $499.99 in the U.S. starting September 1. In Japan, the increase already took effect May 25: from ¥49,980 to ¥59,980.
Why Raise Prices on Record Sales
It's not a paradox. Nintendo cited rising component costs: the GDDR7 shortage and Samsung memory production disruptions (45,000-worker strike) have pushed hardware costs higher. Per GIGAZINE (May 25), Nintendo simultaneously raised its production target to 20 million units by March 2027, signaling confidence in demand even at the higher price.
Market Implications
At $500, Switch 2 sits above the PS5 Slim and Xbox Series S but below the standard PlayStation 5. Nintendo is positioning a hybrid console at 80% of the premium console threshold — that's new territory. Software's FY26 result: 48.71 million copies, led by Mario Kart World at 14.70M alone.
Outlook
Nintendo lowered its FY27 hardware forecast to 16.5M — standard second-year caution. With Mina the Hollower (May 29), Monster Hunter Wilds: Switch 2 Edition, and unannounced H2 2026 titles, a sharp demand drop seems unlikely. The price hike creates modest friction, not a crisis.