Switch 2 Price vs. Other Nintendo Consoles at Launch: Not the Priciest

The announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2's $450 USD price tag certainly raised eyebrows, given it's a higher price point than what we've come to expect from Nintendo. This increase is attributed to rising production costs and economic factors such as tariffs, with analysts predicting a minimum of $400 USD. However, the shock didn't stop there; the cost of Switch 2 games, which now start at the new industry standard of $70 USD and can go as high as $80 USD for titles like Mario Kart World, added to the overall expense. When you factor in the additional costs of accessories, the total investment for the full Switch 2 experience is significant.

To better understand the Switch 2's pricing, let's adjust the launch costs of previous Nintendo consoles for inflation and compare them to the new console.

Nintendo Switch 2 Price Vs Previous Nintendo Consoles

NES

The NES, launched in 1985 at $179 USD, would cost a hefty $523 USD in 2025 after adjusting for inflation. That's a surprising figure, considering its original price.

SNES

The SNES, released in 1991 for $199 USD, would set you back $460 USD in today's dollars. Despite being $20 more expensive than the NES at launch, inflation makes it slightly more affordable than its predecessor today.

Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64, which ushered in the era of 3D gaming in 1996, was priced at $199 USD. Adjusted for inflation, that's equivalent to $400 USD in 2025.

Nintendo GameCube

The GameCube, which launched in 2001 for $199 USD and whose games will be available on the Switch 2 through the Nintendo Switch Online's classic library, would cost $359 USD in today's money.

Wii

The innovative Wii, released in 2006 for $249 USD, would be about $394 USD in 2025. It was a global phenomenon, bringing motion-controlled gaming to the masses.

Wii U

The less successful Wii U, which hit the market in 2012 for $299 USD, would be priced at $415 USD today, making it quite close to the Switch 2's pricing.

Nintendo Switch

The highly successful Nintendo Switch, launched in 2017 for $299 USD, would cost $387 USD in today's dollars. This makes it still more affordable than the Switch 2 when it launches on June 5.

The original NES, when adjusted for inflation, emerges as the most expensive console Nintendo has ever launched. This historical perspective might not make the Switch 2's price easier to digest, but it provides context.

But what about the games?

While the Switch 2's price was largely anticipated by analysts, the real surprise came with the game pricing. Titles like Mario Kart World are set to retail at $80 USD, while others like Donkey Kong Bananza will be priced at $70 USD, or $65 digitally.

It's challenging to directly compare these prices to those of early NES games due to the significant variation in pricing back then. In the early '90s, NES games ranged from $34 to $45 USD, which translates to $98 to $130 USD in 2025. Despite this, many believe that game prices could continue to rise.

The Switch 2's pricing places it at the higher end of Nintendo's historical pricing spectrum, only surpassed by the NES and SNES when adjusted for inflation. Factors such as rising costs and regional pricing strategies, like the cheaper, region-locked version in Japan priced at 49,980 JPY or $340 USD, contribute to these price points.

How Switch 2's Price Compares to Other Consoles

When comparing the Switch 2 to other consoles, we see interesting parallels.

PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2, launched in 2000 for $299 USD and the best-selling console of all time, would cost $565 USD in 2025 after adjusting for inflation.

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360, Microsoft's most successful console released in 2005 for $299 USD, would be around $500 USD in today's dollars.