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It's been a little over two months since the Nintendo Switch 2 came out, and Nintendo is already raising prices ... on the original Nintendo Switch. In a short and not-so-sweet blog posted to the company's website last week, Nintendo said that it would "adjust" U.S. pricing for all models of the Switch 1 starting on Aug. 3.
Time has passed, and the new pricing is here. According to Nintendo's website, the standard Switch 1 is now $340 (up from $300), while the OLED model is now $400 (up from $350) and the portable-only Lite version is now $230 (up from $200). In addition, the company's also raised the pricing for certain accessories, as a pair of Switch 1 Joy-Cons now costs $90 (up from $80). Even the Alarmo alarm clock is $10 pricier. Note that you may temporarily see alternate pricing at other outlets, as they either move stock they already have or work to update their listings. However, the new pricing is the plan going forward.
It's an odd move to raise prices on such an old device, especially right after releasing its successor, the Nintendo Switch 2. Notably, with the new pricing, the Switch OLED is now only $50 cheaper than a Switch 2 itself (which does lack an OLED screen, but can play exclusive games and makes numerous other improvements).
So what's the reason? Well, Nintendo's blog specifically blames the price hikes on "market conditions," and these higher costs follow yet more tariffs in the United States.
The news that the Switch 1 would get more expensive came just a day after an executive order from the White House that once again threatened trading partners with tariffs, set to kick in on Aug. 7. Japan, Nintendo's home country, was hit with a 15% tariff, and while that's not quite as high as some countries are having to deal with (Switzerland is getting a 39% tariff), it's also not nothing. Plus, much of the Switch's production takes place in Vietnam, which is staring down a 20% tariff.
Given that the new Switch 1 pricing is an increase of about 13%, it's not hard to figure out what happened here. Interestingly, the Switch 2 is not getting any price increases, though, but that might be to help keep sales momentum going after the console recently doubled the first-month sales of the original.
Also not getting price increases are Switch or Switch 2 games themselves, as well as Nintendo Switch Online memberships.
The news follows a separate price hike for Switch 1 systems in Canada, which saw $20 price increases on the Switch and Switch Lite, and a $40 price increase on the Switch OLED.
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