Nintendo president Shutaro Furukawa has addressed investor concerns about the upcoming Switch 2 price hike with a direct answer: the company will release more games. Speaking at the latest investor briefing, Furukawa outlined Nintendo’s plan to expand its software output and make the higher cost worthwhile for prospective buyers across its major markets.
“We will prepare a robust software lineup to enhance the Switch 2 ownership value. We will work diligently to overcome this barrier,” Furukawa said, in a translation published by Nintendo Patents Watch. The remarks frame Nintendo’s game catalog as the primary tool for sustaining adoption as prices climb.
The Switch 2 price hike
Japan sees the first adjustment. The Switch 2 price rises by ¥10,000 on May 25, 2026. North America follows on September 1, 2026, with the system moving from $449.99 to $499.99. Nintendo also confirmed that the original Switch family will see price increases in Japan as part of the same revision.
Nintendo attributed the Switch 2 price hike to rising manufacturing costs. Furukawa acknowledged that even the new price points do not fully account for all cost escalations, meaning the company is absorbing a share of the burden rather than transferring it entirely to consumers. The admission suggests the increase is partly a cost-management compromise rather than a straight pass-through.
Despite the higher prices, Furukawa said Switch 2 demand in the console’s second year remains “firm” and that overall adoption is progressing at a steady pace. He added that current performance gives Nintendo confidence heading into the price transition across its markets.
Software as the answer
Furukawa’s plan centres on first-party games. Splatoon and Fire Emblem are part of the near-term lineup, with a new generation of Pokémon titles planned for 2027. Third-party support will continue alongside Nintendo’s own release schedule, though no specific partners were named in the briefing.
The most significant near-term announcement is Star Fox, confirmed this week as a Switch 2 exclusive and set to launch next month. Its arrival coincides with Japan’s May 25 price deadline, giving Nintendo a high-profile exclusive to point to as the first adjustment takes effect.
What the timeline means for buyers
Consumers in North America have until September 1 before the Switch 2 price hike takes effect. In Japan, that window closes on May 25. Nintendo’s position is that the software lineup makes the console a worthwhile purchase at either price, and the months ahead will test whether consumers agree.
The original Switch sustained broad commercial appeal across several years through a consistent schedule of first-party releases and well-timed exclusives. Nintendo appears to be applying the same approach to the Switch 2, relying on franchise depth and new platform exclusives to keep the console competitive at a higher entry price.