When asked how high it would go, Nintendo’s president cited their best-selling gaming console, the $349 Nintendo Switch. That’s the first such price increase since introduction of their TNC in 2017. The price increase applies only to the base model of the standard Nintendo Switch. It’s not just the flagship, either—other premium models in the product line are seeing price increases. The decision takes place in a context of wider economic changes, including as new tariffs on steel and aluminum announced by President Donald Trump affect many countries.
The Verge was the first to break the announcement. The article shines a light on how this new pricing strategy is squarely aligned with current market conditions. The Nintendo Switch, released March 3, 2017, hasn’t budged a bit on price. Which is why this recent price hike matters deeply on a practical level and spiritually for the culture and the collector-constituents.
Impact on Consumers
The price hike means that consumers will now have to shell out more money for the standard Nintendo Switch model. This move comes right as millions of gamers are ready and willing to purchase or upgrade their consoles. The approaching holiday season is contributing to that excitement. Other variants such as the Nintendo Switch Lite and the Nintendo Switch OLED have seen price drops. What exactly all these changes entail remains murky.
A behind-the-scenes shot of the console’s launch. It was indeed an exciting, glorious time. On March 3, 2017, six-year-old Nao Imoto proudly poses with her newly-acquired Nintendo Switch in Tokyo. TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP via Getty Images. TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP via Getty Images. It’s an incredibly poignant testament to the bond so many of us have forged with the device since its debut.
Delisting of Games from the eShop
On top of the price hike, Nintendo plans to delete about 70 games from its eShop this September. Entergram, the eventuating company behind this delisting, has not announced any reasoning for removing these titles. This seems to have doubled the complexity and confusion to Nintendo’s offerings. It might even affect the way consumers decide what to buy.
Gamers worry delisting can lead to erosion of accessibility and availability of beloved titles. As their actions indicate, Nintendo is fiercely taking charge in very rough waters. Specifically, they are targeting new hardware price and access to digital content to stay competitive in their market space.
Economic Context
The tariff increase comes just as President Trump announces new tariffs. These industries would be directly affected by these tariffs. The havoc it would cause to manufacturers costs might have been the final straw that made Nintendo decide to raise the prices. Now, companies are contending with increased operational costs driven by changing economic circumstances. As a consequence, consumers will have to prepare for dramatically higher prices on gaming consoles and hardware.
