The announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2's $450 USD price tag certainly turned heads, considering it's a higher price point than what we've typically seen from Nintendo. However, with rising production costs and economic factors such as tariffs, analysts had anticipated a price around $400 USD, making the $450 price less surprising. The real shock came with the pricing of Switch 2 games, which not only met the new $70 USD standard but also reached up to $80 USD for titles like Mario Kart World. When you factor in the cost of additional accessories necessary for the full Switch 2 experience, the total investment can become quite substantial.

To put the Switch 2's price into perspective, let's adjust the launch costs of previous Nintendo consoles for inflation and compare them to the Switch 2 and other consoles. The results might surprise you.

Nintendo Switch 2 Price Vs Previous Nintendo Consoles

NES

The NES, released in 1985, was sold for $179 USD at launch. While it sounds like a bargain today, adjusted for inflation, it would cost $523 USD in 2025. Quite a leap!

SNES

The SNES, launched in 1991, cost $199 USD at the time. With inflation, this would be equivalent to $460 USD in 2025.

Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64, marking Nintendo's 3D revolution in 1996, also started at $199 USD. Adjusted for inflation, this translates to $400 USD in today's terms.

Nintendo GameCube

The GameCube, which hit shelves in 2001 for $199 USD, would cost $359 USD in 2025 after adjusting for inflation. Its games will be accessible on the Switch 2 through the Nintendo Switch Online's classic library.

Wii

The motion-controlled Wii, released in 2006, was priced at $249 USD. In 2025 terms, that's about $394 USD.

Wii U

The Wii U, launched in 2012 for $299 USD, would be $415 USD in today's dollars, closely aligning with the Switch 2's pricing.

Nintendo Switch

The highly successful Nintendo Switch, released in 2017, retailed for $299 USD. Adjusted for inflation, this would be $387 USD in 2025, making it cheaper than the Switch 2, set to launch on June 5.

Interestingly, the original NES turns out to be the most expensive console Nintendo has ever launched when adjusted for inflation. This doesn't make the Switch 2's price any easier to swallow, though.

Credit: IGN

But what about the games?

While the Switch 2's hardware price was somewhat anticipated, the pricing of its games caused quite a stir. Titles like Mario Kart World are set at $80 USD, while others such as Donkey Kong Bananza are priced at $70 USD (or $65 digitally). Comparing these to the early NES cartridges, which varied widely in price, even the cheapest NES game at $34 USD (or $98 USD in 2025) would be more than Mario Kart World today. There's a growing concern that game prices could continue to rise.

The Switch 2's pricing falls on the higher end of Nintendo's spectrum, surpassed only by the NES and SNES when adjusted for inflation. Factors like production costs and the announcement of a cheaper, region-locked Switch 2 for Japan at 49,980 JPY ($340 USD) highlight the impact of real-world economic pressures.

How Switch 2's Price Compares to Other Consoles

PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2, released in 2000, was priced at $299 USD. Adjusted for inflation, it would cost $565 USD in 2025, making it more expensive than the Switch 2.

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360, launched in 2005 for $299 USD, would equate to about $500 USD in 2025 after inflation adjustments.

Console prices adjusted for inflation. The PS3 was super expensive! Image credit: IGN

This comparison shows how the Switch 2's price stacks up against its predecessors and some of its competitors. For more insights, check out IGN's hands-on with the Switch 2 and games like Mario Kart World, as well as discussions with analysts on the factors driving the increased costs of the Switch 2 and its ecosystem.