Nintendo clarifies price changes for Switch 2 games

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

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

Along with Switch 2 exclusive games, Nintendo's latest console is also backwards compatible with almost every Nintendo Switch game. In March 2026, Nintendo released a Switch 2 system update that introduced Handheld Boost Mode to users. The Switch 2's Handheld Boost Mode allows Switch games to run at 1080p on the Switch 2 console in Handheld Mode, resulting in a clearer image compared to the original Switch's 720p Handheld Mode resolution. Although this feature causes the Switch 2 battery to drain faster, games like Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Metroid Prime Remastered they have been shown to perform better in Handheld Boost mode.

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Some physical and digital Switch 2 games will have split pricing

With the Switch 2's first anniversary approaching, Nintendo has said that the cost of some first-party titles will change in the coming months. Nintendo has confirmed that the prices of some first-party titles exclusive to the Switch 2 will have split prices for the physical and digital editions of the same game. Nintendo cited the cost of producing and producing these games in physical and digital formats as the main reason for their decision. Nintendo claimed that this change would give gamers a choice in how they can buy and enjoy Nintendo games.

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

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

“The cost of physical games will not go up.

“This means that when Nintendo sells digital versions of games published by Nintendo exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 to US consumers, those prices will have an MSRP that is lower than their physical counterparts.

“Retail partners set their own prices for physical and digital games, and individual title prices may vary.”

At the time of writing, there is a digital release Yoshi and the mysterious book it costs $59.99 on the My Nintendo Store, while physical pre-orders are listed at $69.99. However, it's unclear whether the May 2026 pricing update will be retroactive to other first-party Switch 2 games. For example, physical and digital copies Pokemon Pokopia and Mario Kart World they are currently priced at $69.99 and $79.99 respectively. Additionally, the price change does not apply to games that are 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 cut production costs, it remains to be seen how Nintendo's pricing split will fare comparatively.

Nintendo needs to make more economic decisions

Despite the changes, Nintendo still has some manufacturing hurdles to overcome. With the Nintendo Switch 2 consoles having lower than expected sales in the US, reports have suggested that Nintendo may reduce the number of Switch 2 consoles it produces in the upcoming quarter. The decline was reportedly not related to the ongoing global DRAM shortage crisis and was instead tied to Nintendo users waiting for more Switch 2 exclusive games before upgrading from the original Switch console. WITH Pokemon winds and waves coming out in 2027 and not 2026, time will tell how this will affect the decisions of Nintendo fans looking to switch to Switch 2.

Although the Switch 2 has not yet been affected by the RAM crisis, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said in February that he would monitor 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 continuing to spiral out of control, fans looking to pick up Nintendo's new console may not want to wait much longer for potential pricing to change.