Nintendo has implemented significant price increases across its entire Switch console lineup and accessories in the United States and Canada. The standard Nintendo Switch jumped from $300 to $340, the OLED model increased from $350 to $400, and the Switch Lite rose from $200 to $230 in the US market.
Canadian gamers face similar hikes, with the standard Switch now priced at $419.99 CAD (up from $399.99), the Switch OLED at $489.99 CAD (up from $449.99), and the Switch Lite at $279.99 CAD (up from $259.99).
The timing of these increases is pretty unusual since console prices usually go down as hardware gets older, especially after a successor has launched. With the Switch 2 already out, a lot of people expected the original Switch family to get cheaper, not pricier.
Nintendo isn’t stopping at console prices either. Accessories have also seen substantial increases, with the Switch 2 Pro Controller now at a hefty $90. This puts Nintendo’s controller among the most expensive first-party controllers on the market, right up there with the premium options from PlayStation and Xbox.
What’s especially wild about this situation is that the price difference between the aging Switch OLED ($400) and the brand-new Switch 2 ($450) is now just $50. For many shoppers, spending the extra cash for the latest model probably makes more sense than picking up the older tech.
Your wallet just took a critical hit
Historically, Nintendo doesn’t mess with console prices in North America much, unless it’s for special promotions or bundles. The Switch has stayed stuck at $299 since it launched back in 2017, so this sudden price jump stands out.
These higher prices could really change what folks decide to buy. If you’re watching your budget, you might check out used consoles, while others might take this as a reason to just go for the Switch 2 and skip the older hardware now that it costs almost as much.
