Nintendo clarifies price changes for Switch 2 game

This article was updated by Andrea Trama on March 26, 2026, citing Nintendo's new statement and clarification on pricing. It was first published on March 25.

Something physical Nintendo Switch 2 games published by Nintendo will be more expensive than their digital counterparts. Nintendo stated that these price changes between Switch 2 physical and digital games will begin later this year, starting with one of their first-party offers in spring 2026.

Along with exclusive Switch 2 games, the latest Nintendo console is also backwards compatible with almost all Nintendo Switch games. In March 2026, Nintendo released a Switch 2 system update that introduced Handheld Boost Mode for users to take advantage of. The Switch 2's Handheld Boost Mode allows Switch games to run in 1080p on a Switch 2 console in handheld mode, resulting in clearer visuals compared to the original Switch's 720p Handheld Mode resolution. Although this feature causes the Switch 2's battery to drain faster, games such as Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Metroid Prime Remastered has proven to work better in Handheld Boost Mode.

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Some Switch 2 physical and digital games will have split pricing

As the Switch 2 approaches its one-year anniversary, Nintendo stated that the cost of some published first-party titles will change in the coming months. Nintendo confirmed that the prices of certain first-party titles exclusive to Switch 2 will have split pricing on physical and digital editions of the same game. Nintendo cited the cost of producing and manufacturing these games in physical and digital formats as the main reason behind their decision. Nintendo claimed that this change would give players a choice in how they can purchase and enjoy Nintendo games.

However, Nintendo clarified that since retail partners set their own MSRPs for physical and digital games, the price of each title will still vary by retailer. Nintendo stated that the price split also applies to pre-orders for Yoshi and the Mysterious Book on Nintendo's website. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book launches May 21, with digital downloads requiring users to set aside 20.6GB of storage on the Switch 2 console.

In response to IGN's inquiry about price changes, Nintendo said:

“The cost of physical games is not increasing.

“This means that when Nintendo sells digital versions of Nintendo's published games exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 to consumers in the United States, those prices will have an MSRP lower than their physical counterparts.

“Retail partners set their own prices for physical and digital games, and the price of each title may vary.”

As of this writing, the digital edition of the Yoshi and the Mysterious Book costs $59.99 on the My Nintendo Store, while physical pre-orders are listed at $69.99. However, it is unclear whether the May 2026 price update will be retroactive to other Switch 2 first-party games. For example, physical and digital copies of Pokemon Pokopia and Mario Kart World are currently priced at $69.99 and $79.99 respectively. Additionally, the price change does not apply to games available on the original Switch or other platforms. With some third-party Switch 2 games using the controversial Game-Key Card format as a way to lower manufacturing costs, it remains to be seen how Nintendo's split pricing approach will fare comparatively.

Nintendo has more financial decisions to make

Despite the changes, Nintendo still has some manufacturing hurdles to navigate. With Nintendo Switch 2 consoles having lower than expected sales in the US, reports indicated that Nintendo may reduce how many Switch 2 consoles it produces in the upcoming quarter. The decline was reportedly unrelated to the ongoing global DRAM shortage crisis, and was instead pinned on Nintendo users waiting for more exclusive Switch 2 games to come out before upgrading from the original Switch console. With Pokemon winds and waves released in 2027 rather than 2026, time will tell how that will affect the decisions of Nintendo fans looking to jump to the Switch 2.

Although the Switch 2 has been unaffected by the RAM crisis so far, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated in February that they would keep an eye on the situation before making any decisions that could change the price of the Switch 2. With the Switch 2 reducing its production and RAM prices still spiraling out of control, fans looking to pick up a new Nintendo console may not want to wait much longer before prices will have to wait a lot longer.