While Nintendo is getting ready to reveal more details about its next console, the Switch 2, during an event slated for April 2nd, a key subject of speculation has been the system’s price. SuperData Research co-founder Joost van Dreunen analyst believes it will be priced similarly to the original Nintendo Switch to avoid alienating existing customers.
In an analysis of Nintendo’s strategies for its next console, he predicts a $399 price tag for the Switch 2. The price tag represents a “critical psychological threshold that balances premium hardware aspirations against mainstream market accessibility.”
He also notes that the price tag would allow Nintendo to profit from selling the Switch 2 while keeping it priced well under other consoles in the market. This helps the company since the new console is entering an incredibly different market from when the Switch came out.
The rise of handheld gaming systems has also seemingly affected Nintendo’s plans, according to van Dreunen, with systems like the Steam Deck offering PC gaming at lower costs than a bespoke gaming PC. On Nintendo’s side, however, is its strong first-party releases, which often drive more console sales.
“The emergence of premium handheld devices like Valve’s Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally, far from presenting direct competition, validates Nintendo’s strategic positioning,” he wrote. “While these devices occupy similar form factors, their positioning at $549+ price points with PC gaming ecosystems creates clear market segmentation. Nintendo has a proven ability to maintain platform profitability through strategic pricing.”
van Dreunen also notes that the Switch 2 is entering a market that doesn’t have strict delineations between various console generations. Rather, customers are more keen on hanging on to their digital game libraries, an aspect that Nintendo has seemingly acknowledged considering the Switch 2’s backward compatibility.
“For Nintendo, the Switch’s eight-year tenure aligns with industry-wide trends toward digital monetization reducing dependency on hardware refresh cycles,” notes van Dreunen. “Nintendo’s strategic focus on backward compatibility for Switch 2 suggests the company views platform longevity as core to maintaining its efficient capital deployment model. Rather than cyclical hardware releases driving growth, the emphasis has shifted to maximizing software revenue and digital engagement across extended platform lifecycles.”
The Nintendo Switch 2 was officially unveiled back in January. While we don’t know much about the console, the announcement offered a closer look at the new features. These include a larger display, re-designed aesthetics focusing more on accent colours, and a new mechanism to attach and detach the JoyCons.
The Switch 2 will also be fully backwards compatible with all Switch games, both physical and digital. More details will be revealed later, though some niche titles may be unsupported on the new console.
While software support for the Switch 2 is currently unknown, Nintendo teased a new Mario Kart for the console in its announcement video. Rumours indicate that a host of third-party companies are working on games for the console, including Microsoft, Ubisoft, and Konami.
