Market research firm Niko Partners warns the Nintendo Switch 2's base $449 price is under pressure. Their 2026 forecast suggests Nintendo may drop the base model, selling only bundles at $499 or higher. This potential $50 increase stems from U.S. tariff pressures, rising memory costs, and broader economic instability.

These factors have already forced Sony and Microsoft to raise console prices post-launch. While Nintendo kept the Switch 2 launch price stable, accessory costs have quietly increased. Last December, Nintendo faced a 41% jump in LPDDR5X memory costs and an 8% rise in NAND flash pricing, squeezing margins.

Nintendo likely cannot absorb all these costs alone. The company may need to follow competitors and implement a hardware price increase to maintain product viability. As DRAM and NAND prices continue their upward trend, this could signal the start of wider industry price adjustments for gaming hardware.