It's been an eventful week for U.S. gamers, marked by the exciting full reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, followed by a wave of disappointment over its $450 price tag and the $80 cost for Mario Kart Tour. The roller coaster continued as Nintendo announced a delay in pre-orders to assess the impact of the Trump Administration’s sudden, sweeping tariffs on global trade.
We've covered the reasons behind the high cost of the Nintendo Switch 2 and the potential effects of these tariffs on the gaming industry elsewhere. The burning question now is: what will Nintendo do? Will the Nintendo Switch 2's price increase when pre-orders finally open?
Typically, when faced with questions about the future of video games, I consult a panel of expert industry analysts. While they can't predict the future, their consensus, backed by data and evidence, often provides a reliable outlook. I've done this twice already this week. However, for the first time, every analyst I spoke to was stumped. Some guessed that Nintendo might raise prices, while others thought they wouldn't, but all emphasized the unprecedented chaos of the situation. No one can accurately predict the actions of Nintendo, the Trump Administration, or any other stakeholders in the coming days, weeks, or months.
With this in mind, here's what the analysts had to say:
Sky-High Switch
The analysts were divided on the issue. Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, initially thought it was too late for Nintendo to raise prices after announcing them, but the delay has changed his perspective. He believes Nintendo will likely run simulations and announce price hikes for the system, games, and accessories. "I hope I am wrong, but if sustained, these sky-high tariffs leave them no choice. Would you be surprised now to see Switch 2 hit US$500 for the base model? I wouldn't," he said. He also questioned why Nintendo didn't wait for the U.S. to resolve the tariffs before setting the pricing.
Mat Piscatella, senior analyst at Circana, also predicted that game prices, including those from Nintendo, would likely increase, though the extent and specifics are uncertain. He noted that the tariffs were higher than anticipated, forcing businesses reliant on international supply chains to reevaluate their pricing. "Some territories and regions globally have historically been subject to higher pricing than other parts of the world when it comes to video games. The US could certainly be joining that group because of these tariffs," he said.
Manu Rosier, director of market analysis at Newzoo, agreed that hardware prices would likely rise, though he believes software might not be as affected due to the growing dominance of digital distribution. "If a 20% tariff—or any substantial increase—were to be introduced, it’s unlikely that companies like Nintendo would absorb the additional cost by cutting into their margins. In such cases, the burden could shift to consumers in the form of higher retail prices," he explained.
Holding the Line
On the other side, Joost van Dreunen, NYU Stern professor and author of SuperJoost Playlist, believes Nintendo will try to avoid raising the price of the Switch 2. He suggests that the volatility from the Trump tariffs was already considered in the $449.99 pricing. "Given the first Trump administration's impact, Nintendo, like other manufacturers, has since restructured its supply chain to mitigate such geopolitical risks," he said. However, he acknowledges the unpredictability of tariff decisions could force Nintendo to reassess if the trade situation worsens.
Piers Harding-Rolls, games researcher at Ampere Analysis, shares the view that Nintendo will aim to maintain the announced price to avoid consumer backlash. "The company is now in between a rock and a hard place, having already announced the launch price," he said. He believes the delay in pre-orders is to give Nintendo more time to find a solution and hopes that the pricing will remain unchanged at least until 2026. However, he notes that everything is on the table now, and a price change could impact the brand and consumer perception at launch.
Living in Unhinged Times
Rhys Elliott, games analyst at Alinea Analytics, predicts higher prices for both Nintendo hardware and software due to the tariffs. He referenced his earlier comments about Nintendo's strategy of offering cheaper digital editions in certain markets to encourage digital purchases. "Nintendo might have wanted to do something similar in the US, but the tariff situation is so chaotic that Nintendo was in 'wait and see' mode — and decided to hedge its bets to see if it needed to offset the tariffs," he said.
Elliott also painted a grim picture of the broader impact on the gaming industry, aligning with warnings from the Entertainment Software Association. He believes the tariffs will result in a "weaker, poorer nation," with consumers bearing the brunt of the costs. "Some manufacturers – Nintendo included – have been shifting their manufacturing to non-tariff-impacted markets," he said. However, he noted that moving entire supply chains to the U.S. is logistically impossible under current circumstances. He criticized the tariffs as detrimental to consumers and the gaming industry, driven by political motives rather than economic benefit.
Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery
91 Images 
