Nintendo Switch 2 could cost $499 and bring games at $70, say analysts - Expected release in June

The wait for the Nintendo Switch 2 may be closer to an end, but along with the anticipation, rumors emerge that should leave many fans apprehensive. According to new forecasts from analysts and market experts, the long-awaited successor to the hybrid console from Nintendo may arrive costing US$ 499, with games starting at US$ 70 as the new standard.

The information was disclosed in a report from Bloomberg, which gathered opinions from respected figures in the market, such as Dr. Serkan Toto, Robin Zhu, and Yijia Zhai. According to the three, the Nintendo Switch 2 will not be as affordable as the original model, launched in 2017 at US$ 299. They believe that the higher price is a direct reflection of the technology embedded in the new generation, including a much more expensive chip from NVIDIA.

“The chip in the first Switch cost about US$ 80 per unit, while the chip in the Switch 2 is expected to cost between US$ 130 and US$ 150. I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo launched the console for US$ 499,” stated Toyo Securities, one of the sources cited by Bloomberg.

Furthermore, increased import tariffs from the United States are also said to be pushing the final price of the console up.

Despite the steep price, analysts believe that the Nintendo Switch 2 could have one of the biggest launches in video game history, surpassing initial numbers of other consoles. Robin Zhu estimates between 6 and 8 million units sold right at launch, with the potential to exceed 20 million units in the first year.

For comparison, according to Bloomberg, the original Nintendo Switch sold 2.7 million units in its first month, while the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 recorded around 4.5 million units in the first quarter.

And it's not just the console that may weigh on the wallet. Following the current market trend, Nintendo may adopt US$ 70 as the standard price for its first-party games. Dr. Serkan Toto, on his X account (formerly Twitter), also highlighted this possibility, which could represent a significant increase compared to the US$ 60 currently practiced on the current Switch.

However, analysts point out that the high price may be justified by a robust launch lineup, which would include:

• New Mario title
• Pokémon Legends
• Metroid Prime 4
• And major partnerships with third-parties, like Call of Duty, which has been mentioned in previous rumors.
   

It is worth noting that the console market has changed in recent years: with the PlayStation 5 Pro entering the market at US$ 700/800 euros, prices of new generation consoles have ceased to follow the "traditional" standard of more affordable prices, due to development costs and more powerful components.

Finally, the official announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2, with release date and confirmed price, may take place at the next Nintendo Direct, scheduled for April 2, 2025. Until then, the debate about the price and accessibility of the console will certainly continue.

It remains to be seen if fans will be willing to pay the price for innovation — or if Nintendo will find ways to balance power, catalog, and accessibility in its new generation.