Nintendo is bumping up the price of the Switch 2 in several major markets, and while Malaysia pricing was not specifically listed in the announcement, this is the kind of move that SEA buyers definitely need to pay attention to.
From September 1, the Switch 2 will cost US$499.99 in the US, up from US$449.99. Canada is also getting a US$50-style jump, with the console moving from CA$629.99 to CA$679.99. Europe is seeing a €40 increase, bringing the machine to €499.99.
Japan is getting hit earlier. From May 25, the Switch 2 price there rises from ¥49,980 to ¥59,980. That is a pretty chunky jump, and Japan’s changes go beyond just the new console. Nintendo is also increasing prices for the original Switch, Switch OLED, and Switch Lite in Japan, alongside Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions and even playing cards.
Nintendo’s reason is the usual painful 2026 hardware story: market conditions are changing, and the company expects those pressures to continue for a while. In its financial update, Nintendo pointed to rising component costs, especially memory, plus tariff measures. Basically, the parts and global trade side of making consoles are getting more expensive, and that cost is now being pushed closer to customers.
For Malaysian gamers, the immediate question is simple: will this make Switch 2 units more expensive here too?
Nintendo has not given a Malaysia-specific price in the source report, so don’t treat the US number as an official local RRP. But our market often depends heavily on regional supply, importers, parallel sets, bundles, and retailer stock. When prices rise in big markets like the US, Europe, Canada, and Japan, Malaysian shops may have less room to keep prices attractive — especially for early units, limited bundles, or grey import stock.
A straight US conversion already puts the new US price somewhere in the low RM2,000 range before shipping, taxes, margins, and local warranty considerations. Once you add the usual retail realities, the Switch 2 could become a harder impulse buy for students, working adults, and families who were already comparing it against a PS5, PC upgrade, Steam Deck-style handheld, or just sticking with the original Switch.
The timing is interesting too. Nintendo says the Switch 2 had a huge first fiscal year, selling 19.86 million units in FY26. That beats the original Switch’s 15.05 million units during its own first full fiscal year. But Nintendo also says demand was more front-loaded this time, so it expects a slower second year. Its FY27 forecast is 16.5 million Switch 2 units, and the company is also expecting around a ¥100 billion revenue impact from cost pressures.
This is not happening in a vacuum. Sony recently raised PlayStation 5 console prices by US$100 in April, while Microsoft made broad Xbox Series S / X and controller price hikes last year. Console gaming is entering a very annoying era: hardware is staying expensive longer, and price drops are no longer guaranteed the way they used to be.
For SEA players, the practical advice is boring but important: if you are planning to buy a Switch 2, compare warranty coverage, bundle value, region differences, and game pricing before jumping on the first “ready stock” listing. The console is still going to be a monster for Nintendo exclusives, but the value equation is getting tougher.
Source: The Verge Gaming