Nintendo’s bold move with the Switch 2, set for a June 5, 2025 launch, is shaking up both gamers and scalpers—especially with prices around 50% higher than the original. The strategy? Make console flipping less alluring, thanks to a hefty price tag, shiny new 4K visuals, and a loaded launch library, including Mario Kart World. Fans aren’t thrilled, but will this really keep resellers at bay? Stick around to catch the finer points Nintendo is betting on.
Although Nintendo has never shied away from shaking up the gaming world, the company’s plan for the Switch 2 is bold even by its own standards. Launching June 5, 2025, in most territories, the Switch 2 arrives with a price tag that’s about 50% higher than the original. That’s quite a jump—enough to spark a chorus of complaints from fans and skeptics alike.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 launches June 2025 with a price about 50% higher than the original, sparking instant debate among fans.
Games, too, will be pricier, costing up to 33% more than before. Clearly, Nintendo believes the new console’s features will speak for themselves, or at least talk loudly enough to drown out the grumbling.
So, what justifies the cost? For starters, there’s a much bigger liquid-crystal display, now boasting a 1080p resolution and a snappy 120Hz refresh rate in handheld mode. Dock it, and you’re looking at 4K graphics at 60 frames per second—a first for Nintendo.
The controllers are getting a refresh as well, with more robust specs, and there’s more internal storage, which is always a win (because who doesn’t run out of space halfway through downloading a new game?).
Backward compatibility is a smart move. You can bring your Switch library along for the ride, and some older games will even get free or paid upgrades to take advantage of the new hardware. At launch, 20 games are set for the Switch 2 lineup, including major titles like Mario Kart World and Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will also give members access to a curated selection of classic GameCube titles, adding further value for those who subscribe.
Nintendo Switch Online remains, dishing out multiplayer and classic titles, with GameCube exclusives tucked into the Expansion Pack tier. Game-Key Cards (think: digital download cards) and standard cartridges will both be supported, so physical and digital gamers can coexist, peacefully.
Pre-orders kicked off April 5, 2025, in most regions. Predictably, there’s no grand anti-scalping plan—Nintendo’s hoping the higher price alone will scare off some would-be resellers.
Maybe not the most elegant solution, but it’s something.
The Switch 2 is clearly gunning for both loyalists and newcomers, but with competition from PlayStation and Xbox, and a price that’s hard to ignore, Nintendo’s gamble could either pay off or backfire.
The real verdict? That’ll come when the console hits shelves—and maybe eBay, too.