Nintendo to Price Switch 2 Digital Games Lower Than Physical Copies in the US
Nintendo has announced that digital games for the upcoming Switch 2 will be priced lower than physical versions in the United States, starting from May 2026. The company says the change reflects the different costs involved in producing and distributing digital versus physical games, and it will give players more flexibility in how they choose to purchase their games.
According to Nintendo, new titles developed specifically for the Switch 2 will have different manufacturer suggested retail prices (MSRPs) for digital and physical editions. However, the company clarified that this does not mean overall game prices are increasing — instead, digital versions will simply be cheaper than physical copies. Final retail prices may still vary depending on retailers, as stores are free to set their own prices.
The first game to follow this new pricing model will be Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. The digital version of the game will remain priced at $59.99, while the physical edition will retail for $69.99. Games that were released before this pricing change, such as Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, will not be affected.
The pricing adjustment comes at a time when Nintendo is facing rising production costs, including higher component prices and US tariffs affecting hardware manufacturing. Previously, the company also increased prices for some Switch 2 accessories due to changing market conditions.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has also indicated that future price changes for the console itself are possible, especially due to ongoing memory component shortages, which are increasing production costs faster than expected. He explained that any future pricing decisions will depend on several factors, including profitability, sales performance, market conditions and the size of the console’s user base.
Recent reports also suggest that Nintendo has adjusted its Switch 2 production plans in the US following weaker-than-expected holiday sales. The company had initially planned to produce six million units for the quarter but reportedly reduced that number to four million after sales did not meet expectations.
Despite these challenges, the Switch 2 had a strong launch in the United States, selling more than 1.1 million units and setting a new launch record, surpassing the previous record held by the PlayStation 4.
