Man, so Nintendo — they just dropped a bomb with their latest move. You know, raising prices on the original Switch models. Like, did not see that coming. I remember when companies used to slash prices on older stuff when the new shiny toys came out, but nope, not this time. Maybe it’s some weird economic thing. Or aliens. Okay, probably not aliens, but hey, anything’s possible, right?
So, starting August 3, 2025 – mark your calendars if you care – prices are going up for Switch 1 handhelds, a few Switch 2 accessories, and this interestingly named Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo. Sounds like a gadget you’d use to wake up before a marathon gaming session. But don’t sweat it, at least not everything is getting pricier. The Switch 2 and game prices stay put, for now. Though Nintendo hints they might just change their minds later. Typical.
Here’s the thing, the prices? Let me break it down for you. The Switch, which was $299.99, now jumps to $339.99. That’s forty bucks gone in a puff. The OLED model feels the sting too — a whole fifty-dollar leap to $399.99. Even the lite version isn’t spared, up thirty smackers to $229.99. And that little clock I mentioned? Just a ten-dollar hike. So if you were planning to buy Joy-Con 2 controllers, well, get ready to fork out a few more dollars too.
Now, normally I’d expect the opposite from a big name like Nintendo, especially right after the Switch 2 release. But apparently, market mumbo jumbo and economic shenanigans are involved – no clue. Maybe the tariffs that were slapping around during Trump’s time got something to do with it, but hey, seems Canada got a taste of the price jump as well. Not just us poor souls in the U.S.
Speaking of Switch 1, they’re now within thirty to fifty dollars of being in no-man’s-land price-wise. Almost $400 for a maxed-out Switch 1? Just add fifty and snag yourself a Switch 2 instead. Trust me, the performance is worth that extra bit – unless you’re super attached to the OLED display, then… choices, right?
And here’s a kicker: the Switch 2’s microSD Express card technology. Sure, they can be elusive and pricey little devils if you don’t know where to look. But, they let you load games straight from the expansion slot. I mean, how cool is that?
Oh, and speaking of buying one, the Switch 2 isn’t pulling a PS5 here. No shortage nonsense and you shouldn’t need to sell a kidney to a scalper to get one. At least Nintendo has that sorted. Unlike Sony’s little blip with the PS5 where finding one felt like treasure hunting on some deserted island.
If you want to keep up with stuff like this, maybe Google News and Tom’s Hardware could be your go-to. Or not. Whatever floats your boat.
