Nintendo announces a $500 Switch 2 bundle with a first-party game

At a glance:

• Nintendo has announced a $500 Switch 2 bundle that pairs the console with one of three first-party games: Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia.
• The Switch 2 alone currently sells for $450, but a $50 price hike driven by the AI chip crisis and tariffs is expected in September, which would push the console-plus-game cost to roughly $570.
• Nintendo says the bundle will be available for a limited time while supplies last, and stock is likely to vanish before the September increase takes effect.

What is in the bundle

Nintendo's new bundle lets buyers pick up a Switch 2 console together with one of three marquee exclusives for a flat $500. The three titles on offer are Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Pokémon Pokopia — effectively the only three big-name Switch 2 exclusives available at the moment. Mario Kart World is widely considered the weakest of the trio, though it still carries the weight of the iconic franchise. Donkey Kong Bananza and Pokémon Pokopia, by most accounts, are top-tier experiences that have driven strong attach rates since the console's debut last year.

Why the price is going up

The $50 increase coming in September is being attributed to the ongoing AI-fueled chip shortage and escalating tariffs on imported electronics. Both factors have squeezed hardware margins across the industry, and Nintendo is the latest manufacturer to pass the cost through to consumers. After the hike, the Switch 2 will retail at $500 on its own, meaning a customer who pairs it with a first-party game at that point would be looking at around $570 — a significant jump from the current bundle price of $500.

A broader trend in console pricing

Nintendo is far from alone. The Xbox Series X Digital Edition has climbed to $600, while the standard PS5 now carries a $650 price tag. Both Microsoft and Sony consoles launched nearly six years ago and are now more expensive than they were at launch — a reversal of the typical console lifecycle where prices drop over time. The Switch 2, barely a year old, is about to follow the same pattern, marking an unusual moment in which every major platform holder is moving in the same direction.

What to watch

Nintendo has characterized the bundle as available "for a limited time while supplies last," which strongly suggests stock will be depleted well before the September price increase lands. For prospective buyers, the window to lock in the current $500 deal is likely measured in weeks rather than months. Beyond the bundle, the industry-wide repricing raises questions about how the next generation of hardware will be positioned if component costs and trade-policy headwinds persist into 2026 and beyond.