Switch 2 Price Hike Likely as Global RAM Shortage Hits Nintendo

If you have been holding off on picking up a Nintendo Switch 2, you might want to rethink your timeline. Nintendo has warned about the future pricing of its latest console. While the company officially stated that the price for the Switch 2 remains unchanged "at this time," they could go up in the future. This isn't just a vague threat, either; it comes alongside immediate price hikes for the original Nintendo Switch family, confirming that the gaming giant is already reacting to volatile economic pressures.

The driving force behind this potential price surge is a massive global shortage of Random Access Memory (RAM), a crisis that is currently shaking the entire tech industry. The explosive demand for hardware capable of powering Artificial Intelligence has diverted manufacturing capacity away from consumer electronics. 

Major memory manufacturers like Samsung and SK Hynix have struck deals to prioritize AI data centers for companies like OpenAI, leaving consumer supplies dry. Consequently, prices for DRAM and NAND flash memory have skyrocketed. To put this in perspective, a standard 2x16 DDR5 RAM kit for a PC that sold for roughly $90 in September 2025 is now costing consumers over $400, as reported by GameRant. 

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa addressed these concerns as the company revealed its latest financial results for the third quarter of the current fiscal year. He admitted during an earnings briefing that while the company is trying to absorb costs, hardware profitability is under severe pressure. Analysts from USB Securities are painting a grimmer picture, projecting that if memory prices continue their upward trend, the cost of manufacturing the Switch 2 could rise significantly. 

They estimate that what is currently a gross margin profit of about $23 per unit could flip into a loss of $35 to $50 per console by late 2026. While Furukawa indicated that a Switch 2 price hike is unlikely before the current fiscal year ends on March 31, 2026, the start of the new fiscal year in April could bring changes if procurement costs don't stabilize. 

Overtaking the DS as the All-Time Best-Seller

Unfortunately for fans of the older generation, the price hikes are no longer hypothetical. Effective August 3, 2025, the price of the Nintendo Switch OLED Model in the US jumped from $349.99 to $399.99. The standard Nintendo Switch also saw an increase, moving from $299.99 to $339.99, with the Switch Lite seeing similar adjustments. 

Despite the looming financial clouds, Nintendo has plenty to celebrate regarding its hardware milestones. In a historic achievement revealed in the latest financial results, the original Nintendo Switch has officially become the company's best-selling console of all time. As of Dec 31, 2025, the Switch family, including the Lite and OLED models, has sold an estimated 155.37 million units worldwide. 

This figure pushes it past the legendary Nintendo DS, which sold 154.02 million units during its lifespan. However, the Switch still has one final boss to defeat: it currently trails Sony’s PlayStation 2, which remains the industry king with over 160 million units sold. As for the Switch 2, it is off to a robust start despite the market chaos, selling approximately 17.37 million so far.

With rumors swirling about a potential Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase happening as early as this week to outline plans for the rest of 2026. For now, the message to gamers is clear: if you see a Switch 2 on the shelf at its current price, grabbing it now might be the smartest play you can make.