Topline
Nintendo will hike the prices of some Switch 2 accessories while keeping the console at the original price of $450, the company announced Friday, as some gamers feared President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China and Vietnam could cause the price—already criticized by some fans as unexpectedly high—to increase further.
Nintendo bumped up the prices of some Switch 2 accessories by $5 to $10. (Photo Illustration by … More
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Nintendo announced pre-orders for the Switch 2 console would begin April 24, weeks after it delayed the pre-order date to “assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.”
Though the Switch 2 will still sell for $450, the company hiked the prices of several accessories by $5 to $10, including the Joy-Con controllers, bumped from $89.99 to $94.99, the Pro controllers, raised from $79.99 to $84.99 and the Switch 2 camera, raised from $49.99 to $54.99.
Nintendo attributed the price hikes to “changes in market conditions” in a statement, adding that “other adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are also possible in the future depending on market conditions.”
The Nintendo Switch 2 and its accessories will be released on June 5.
Forbes has reached out to Nintendo for comment.
What’s The Reason For The Nintendo Switch Accessory Price Hike?
Nintendo’s price hikes come weeks after Trump announced his wide-ranging tariff policy impacting nearly every country, hitting the locations where Nintendo produces its electronics especially hard. Much of Nintendo’s manufacturing takes place in China and Vietnam. China has become Trump’s biggest target, as he has raised the rate several times in a back-and-forth with the country to a total rate of 145%, with Vietnam also facing a tariff rate of 46%—though Vietnam has evaded tariffs so far as part of Trump’s 90-day pause. Prior to Nintendo’s price increases, Joost van Dreunen, a New York University Stern School of Business professor who teaches about the business of video games, told Forbes gamers should expect accessory prices to increase between 10% to 15% because of the tariffs. van Dreunen noted Nintendo would be hit hard by the tariffs because it had moved much of its manufacturing capabilities to Vietnam to avoid fallout from a potential trade war with China, only for Trump to also raise tariffs on Vietnam.
Why Have Consumers Criticized The Nintendo Switch 2 Prices?
Nintendo announced the Switch 2 and its $450 price on April 2, the same day as what Trump dubbed “Liberation Day”—the day he unveiled his tariff rates. The $450 price tag was slammed by fans as unexpectedly high, as it marks a 50% increase over the $300 the original Switch cost at launch in 2017. Kantan Games consultancy founder Serkan Toto told the Financial Times the steep price was likely a result of Nintendo “building a buffer in case tariffs hit supply chains harder than expected.” Gamers also criticized the expensive prices of some of the Switch 2’s launch games, including “Mario Kart World,” which retails for $80, higher than the industry standard $70 that many games sell for.
Further Reading
Nintendo Surprises With Switch 2 Price Hike—As Trump Imposes Tariffs On China And Vietnam (Forbes)
Switch 2 accessories just got slightly more expensive in the US (Polygon)
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