Nintendo’s Switch 2 Is Getting a Value Hike—and It’s All AI’s Fault

Nintendo tried to keep away from elevating costs on its almost year-old Switch 2 for so long as it may, however in the long run, even the mighty Mario maker couldn’t stave off the continuing “RAMpocalypse” that’s triggered the costs of nearly all client electronics that require reminiscence or flash storage to extend.

In its latest earnings report, Nintendo introduced it might improve the worth of the Switch 2 by $50. Starting on Sept. 1, the hybrid handheld console will value $499.99 as an alternative of the present $449.99 within the U.S. Other areas will even see worth hikes, too. In Canada, the Switch 2 will improve from $629.99 to $679.99. In Europe, it’ll bounce from €469.99 to €499.99.

Japan will get hit the worst. Starting on May 25, all fashions of the unique Switch lineup, together with the Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch (OLED Model), and the Switch 2 will get substantial worth hikes. Japan will even see greater costs for Switch Online and Switch Online + Expansion for each particular person and household memberships beginning on July 1.

It’s a dire second for the gaming business. Everything from units to video games is getting dearer as a result of there’s not sufficient reminiscence or storage to go round for client merchandise.

The “RAMpocalypse” that we’re at present in began late final yr when reminiscence makers equivalent to SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron, which used to promote RAM to client tech corporations, reprioritized their companies to promote RAM to AI corporations like OpenAI, which require ungodly quantities of reminiscence for his or her knowledge facilities. Without the power to obtain RAM at reasonably priced charges, the costs for RAM (and SSDs) have skyrocketed, affecting every thing from laptops to consoles.

In March, Sony jacked up the worth of its PS5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal distant participant for the second time in a yr. A PS5 that launched in 2020 for $500 now prices $650; the PS5 Pro that launched in 2024 for $700 is now $900. And the implications of the latest worth hikes aren’t shocking. Sony introduced in its fourth fiscal quarter that PS5 gross sales fell from 2.8 million models to 1.5 million models yr over yr—a large 46% drop. Sony’s CEO Hiroki Totoki mentioned it’s not planning to extend the PS5 worth once more, however how can it be certain what’s going to occur in a yr? Nobody may be sure.

“We had just had a price increase, so for the next price increase we don’t have that in plan,” Totoki reportedly said. “We will keep this current price so that we can manage the business based on this current price.”

It’s not solely massive gaming and tech corporations getting rocked laborious by the RAMpocalypse. Boutique corporations, like AYN, that make small-batch merchandise, equivalent to the favored dual-screen Thor handheld, have been pressured to not solely hike costs for sure configurations, but additionally provide new, less-capable fashions to fulfill demand—“shrinkflation,” if you’ll.

Zooming out, the RAMpocalypse is a lot worse than Trump’s unlawful tariffs have been a yr in the past.

I do know this sounds wild to say, however for those who’ve been ready to get a Switch 2 or any gadget, my recommendation is to get it sooner somewhat than later earlier than costs improve additional. If it’s important to do your Christmas or birthday procuring a yr prematurely, do it. This is the truth we now dwell in—one that would proceed on for the subsequent few years.