Nintendo to Raise Prices in Japan: Massive Hikes for Both Switch 2 and Original Models Spark Shopping Frenzy

Nintendo has announced a price revision for its next-generation console, the "Nintendo Switch 2," alongside a surprise price hike for the entire lineup of current "Original Nintendo Switch" models. On social media, users are expressing shock and confusion that even the older models, years after their release, are seeing significant price increases alongside the latest hardware.

Set to take effect on May 25, 2026, the revision will see the Japanese version of the Nintendo Switch 2 increase by 10,000 yen, bringing its price to 59,980 yen. In tandem, all original Switch models will also see substantial price jumps. The OLED model will rise from 37,980 yen to 47,980 yen, the standard model from 32,978 yen to 43,980 yen, and the Switch Lite from 21,978 yen to 29,980 yen—increases ranging from approximately 8,000 to 11,000 yen. Additionally, subscription fees for "Nintendo Switch Online" are also expected to rise.

Following this unusual announcement, "Original Switch" (初代Switch) began trending on X (formerly Twitter). While some negative opinions surfaced, such as "I'm shocked even the original is going up" and "Who's going to buy an old model for over 40,000 yen now?", others re-evaluated the current console's value, noting that "The original Switch is still relevant with a huge library" and "If you don't care about the latest specs, buy one now before the price jump."

This has triggered a surge in "last-minute demand" across the market. Posts sharing stock availability on e-commerce sites have spiked on social media, with many users reporting, "I managed to snag one before the hike" or "I ordered an extra OLED model as a spare." A fierce competition for stock is expected to continue until the May 25 deadline.

With the weak yen and rising inflation heavily impacting the gaming industry, it is extremely rare for hardware released years ago to undergo such a steep price hike. Some are also predicting how this will affect trade-in values in the second-hand market, and the atmosphere among users is likely to remain turbulent for the foreseeable future.

The context

For several years, the Japanese economy has been impacted by a significantly weakened yen and the rising costs of global logistics and raw materials. Unlike the US or European markets, where console prices have remained relatively stable, Japan has seen multiple price adjustments for electronics. Nintendo's decision to raise prices on legacy hardware is a bold move; traditionally, console prices drop as they age. This shift highlights the intense economic pressure on Japanese manufacturers to maintain profit margins amid currency fluctuations, following similar price hikes by competitors like Sony and other tech giants like Apple in the region.