It's been a tumultuous week for U.S. gamers, starting with the exciting full reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its accompanying games, only to be overshadowed by the system's hefty $450 price tag and the $80 cost for Mario Kart Tour. The roller coaster continued as Nintendo announced a delay in pre-orders to assess the impact of the sudden, sweeping tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration on numerous countries worldwide.
We've explored elsewhere the reasons behind the high cost of the Nintendo Switch 2 and the broader implications these tariffs might have on the gaming industry. However, the burning question on everyone's mind right now is: What will Nintendo do next? Will the Nintendo Switch 2's price increase when pre-orders finally open?
Typically, when faced with questions about the future of video games, I consult a panel of expert industry analysts. While they can't predict the future with certainty, they usually provide a well-informed consensus based on data and evidence. I've already done this twice this week. However, this time, every analyst I spoke with was stumped, offering guesses about Nintendo's potential price adjustments but emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the current situation. The rapid changes and unpredictability have left even the experts uncertain about what Nintendo, the Trump Administration, or anyone else might do in the coming days, weeks, or months.
With that significant disclaimer in mind, here's what the analysts had to say:
Sky-High Switch
The panel was split on whether Nintendo would raise prices. Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, initially thought it was too late for Nintendo to adjust prices after their announcement. However, the delay in pre-orders has changed his perspective. He believes Nintendo will likely run simulations and then announce price hikes for the system, games, and accessories. "I hope I am wrong, but if sustained, these sky-high tariffs leave them no choice," he said. "Would you be surprised now to see Switch 2 hit US$500 for the base model? I wouldn't."
Dr. Toto also questioned Nintendo's timing, wondering why they didn't wait for the U.S. to resolve its tariff issues before setting prices. Mat Piscatella, senior analyst at Circana, also predicted that game prices, including those from Nintendo, would likely increase. He noted that the tariffs' breadth and depth were unexpected, forcing businesses reliant on international supply chains to reevaluate their U.S. consumer pricing. "Some territories and regions globally have historically been subject to higher pricing than other parts of the world when it comes to video games," he said. "The US could certainly be joining that group because of these tariffs."
Manu Rosier, director of market analysis at Newzoo, agrees that hardware prices will rise, though he believes software prices might not be as affected due to the dominance of digital distribution. "If a 20% tariff—or any substantial increase—were to be introduced, it's unlikely that companies like Nintendo would absorb the additional cost by cutting into their margins," he said. "In such cases, the burden could shift to consumers in the form of higher retail prices."
Holding the Line
On the other hand, Joost van Dreunen, NYU Stern professor and author of SuperJoost Playlist, acknowledges the possibility of a price increase but believes Nintendo will try hard to avoid it. He suggests that the volatility from the Trump tariffs was already factored into the Switch 2's $449.99 pricing. "Given the first Trump administration's impact, Nintendo, like other manufacturers, has since restructured its supply chain to mitigate such geopolitical risks," he said. "While I expect Nintendo will strive to maintain the $449.99 price point, the external economic pressures may eventually force a reassessment if the trade landscape deteriorates further."
Piers Harding-Rolls, games researcher at Ampere Analysis, agrees, highlighting the risk of consumer backlash if prices rise further. "The extent of the tariffs and its impact on Vietnamese exports are really bad news for Nintendo," he says. "The company is now in between a rock and a hard place, having already announced the launch price. I have already suggested that the pricing would stay as announced until 2026 at the earliest but then might be adjusted if the tariffs stay in place. This delay in pre-orders is to give the company more time and it will be hoping some sort of solution will be found over the next few weeks."
Living in Unhinged Times
Rhys Elliott, games analyst at Alinea Analytics, predicts higher prices for both Nintendo hardware and software due to the tariffs. He points to his previous comments about Nintendo's strategy of offering cheaper digital editions in certain markets. "It seems the lower prices in other markets were to nudge Switch 2 buyers to digital," he said. "Nintendo might have wanted to do something similar in the US, but the tariff situation is so chaotic that Nintendo was in 'wait and see' mode—and decided to hedge its bets to see if it needed to offset the tariffs."
Elliott also painted a grim picture of the broader impact of the tariffs on the gaming industry, echoing concerns from the Entertainment Software Association. "Some manufacturers—Nintendo included—have been shifting their manufacturing to non-tariff-impacted markets," he said. "And even if companies can afford to switch up their supply chains, who knows which markets will get tariffs next—as recent news supports. Companies cannot just lift up their whole supply chain and move everything to the US. It's just not logistically possible."
He emphasized the negative effects on U.S. consumers and the populist nature of the administration's policies. "These extreme tariffs will also be bad for consumers in the US but are positive for the US administration's populist façade," Elliott said. "Policies that lead to higher prices for everyday people amid a cost-of-living crisis are deplorable. They're bad for gamers and the games business."
Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery
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