Nintendo is raising prices for the Switch 1 — are tariffs to blame?

0
22

Nintendo is raising prices for the Switch 1 and accessories

Nintendo made an unfortunate announcement on Friday.

 By 

Meera Navlakha

 on 

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Flipboard

mario in mario kart world driving along a wall

Credit: Nintendo

The original Nintendo Switch will soon hold a higher price tag in the United States.

On Friday, Nintendo announced that it's raising prices on its old gaming consoles and accessories as a result of "market conditions" beginning Aug. 3. The price of the new Nintendo Switch 2 will remain the same. However, the original Switch, Nintendo Switch OLED Model, Nintendo Switch Lite, and some Switch accessories will all get higher prices.

The announcement didn't reveal what the new retail price will be for Switch 1 systems, but we have some idea of what to expect.

Nintendo fans (or anyone who's gone searching for Switch 2 restocks) may recognize the X account Wario64, known for tracking Switch inventory online. The account spotted the higher prices already in effect at retailers like Target; the increases range from $30 to $50.

Mashable Light Speed

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

As Kotaku reports, video game consoles usually go down in price as time goes on and the products get older. But Nintendo is taking another route, and tariffs may be to blame.

While the Nintendo statement didn't mention tariffs, the company referenced "market conditions," a common euphemism for tariffs. This is the exact same language the company used in April, when it paused Switch 2 pre-orders in the United States following the initial round of tariffs. Earlier this year, Microsoft also announced price increases on Xbox consoles (also citing "market conditions"). And in previous reporting, experts have also told Mashable that tariffs have had a big impact on video game consoles and accessories in particular.

"[A] lot of the big electronic brands may have avoided some tariffs by stockpiling inventories earlier in the year, before tariffs were announced," said Rick Kowalski, Senior Director of Business Intelligence at the Consumer Technology Association, in an earlier interview with Mashable about tariffs and tech prices. "Those stockpiles will only last a few months at most, so eventually, importers will need to restock, and they'll import more products at the higher tariff rates."

Nintendo says that prices for the Nintendo Switch 2 system, as well as physical and digital Switch games, will not change yet. However, the company says further "price adjustments may be necessary in the future."

Mashable Image

Meera is a journalist based between London and New York. Her work has been published in The New York Times, Vice, The Independent, Vogue India, W Magazine, and others. She was previously a Culture Reporter at Mashable. 

These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Search
Categories
Read More
Games
This new retro gaming monitor will scratch your nostalgia itch, looks like a CRT
This new retro gaming monitor will scratch your nostalgia itch, looks like a CRT As an Amazon...
By Test Blogger6 2025-07-14 15:00:15 0 329
Technology
The 6 ChatGPT settings you need to change to get the most out of the AI chatbot
I change 6 ChatGPT settings to get the most out of the AI chatbot...
By Test Blogger7 2025-06-08 10:00:10 0 1K
Home & Garden
Walmart Quietly Dropped Deals on Our Line of Patio Furniture for Fourth of July Week—Save Up to $600
We Found 15 BHG Patio Furniture Deals Hiding in Walmart’s Fourth of July Sale—Save Up to $600...
By Test Blogger9 2025-07-01 19:00:26 0 588
Food
Once-Struggling Italian Restaurant Chains Making A Comeback
Once-Struggling Italian Restaurant Chains Making A Comeback...
By Test Blogger1 2025-07-08 00:00:08 0 450
Home & Garden
The 25 Best Amazon Deals to Shop This Weekend on Bedding, Vacuums, Fashion, and More—Starting at Only $8
Weekend Steals Are Here: 25 Amazon Deals on Shark, Stanley, and Kate Spade Finds You’ll Love When...
By Test Blogger9 2025-06-14 08:00:31 0 1K