Nintendo Addresses Concerns That the Switch 2 is Too Expensive for Young Gamers

During the annual Nintendo general shareholders’ meeting, one investor addressed a concern about how the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 could be too much for young gamers to pay compared to past products. In response to the Switch 2 pricing question, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said he believed the price was appropriate for what the system offered.

Since its June 5 launch, the Switch 2 has become the fastest-selling console in history, with over 3.5 million units sold within the first four days of global availability. Although the Switch 2 continues to sell well, Nintendo and its partners are still struggling to meet global demand for the system. While the Switch 2 launched at $450 for the base console and $500 for the Mario Kart World bundle, the system’s price could still change in the United States due to tariffs placed on imports from Japan and other nations by the Trump administration. A 25% tariff on goods from Japan and South Korea is slated to go into effect on August 1.

While Nintendo’s new console continues to outsell its competition, a recent meeting shed some light on Nintendo’s justifications for the Switch 2’s price tag. During the 85th annual Nintendo shareholders meeting held on June 27, company president Shuntaro Furukawa took questions from investors. One of the questions posed to Furukawa came from a concerned investor who pointed out that the Switch 2 had a higher price point than past consoles, and stated that this may make it too expensive for young children to easily get. Furukawa acknowledged that the Switch 2 is currently set at a higher price point than its predecessor and said, “We believe the pricing of Nintendo Switch 2 is appropriate for the gaming experience it offers, and what is most important is to provide entertaining experiences that demonstrate the value to consumers.”

Investors Question If The Switch 2’s $450 Price Tag Is Too High For Children

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa took questions from investors at an annual meeting.

When asked if the Switch 2 was too expensive for children to afford, Furukawa said that the price was appropriate.

Furukawa said the Switch 2’s features and games justify its $450 price tag.

However, Furukawa said Nintendo would monitor prices to determine if changes are needed.

Furukawa stated that Nintendo will monitor the pricing situation and determine when it could become a bigger barrier to entry for its younger fans. In response to a question over how the performance of the Switch 2 could lead to higher development costs and software prices, Furukawa stated that Nintendo plans to make select titles more quickly as a way to offset those rising costs. However, Furukawa stopped short of saying which of Nintendo’s IPs would be used as part of the proposed solution.

Though the Switch 2 is one of the best-selling products of 2025, both the price and ongoing demand for Nintendo’s new console could make it scarce even into 2026. It remains to be seen how the price of the Switch 2 will change over its lifespan.