It's Officially a New Era for Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been out for almost a year now. Released on June 5, 2025, the console marked a substantial upgrade over its predecessor. This is especially true in terms of hardware, with the Switch 2 having specifications only marginally weaker than that of the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S.

At the time of its release, the Switch 2 was heralded as a worthy competitor to today's big competition, as evident by the surprise releases of fairly recent AAA titles, like Cyberpunk 2077 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. However, big changes are coming to the platform, for better and worse.

The Switch 2 Is Getting the Best Gaming Has to Offer

At its launch on June 5, 2025, the Switch 2 was already stacked as far as its games were concerned. Mario Kart World, the first new Mario Kart game in over ten years, was made available right at launch. This already gave Switch 2 users something to play right out of the box.

However, Mario Kart World wasn't even the best the Switch 2's launch lineup had to offer. For example, Cyberpunk 2077 came to the console, which is miraculous given how utterly demanding the game is on older hardware, especially the PS4 and Xbox One. Those who have played the game on their Switch 2 attest to it being a functional port that barely feels sluggish to play.

Through the end of 2025 and into the early months of 2026, the Switch 2's game library only grew more extravagant. Nintendo released spectacular first-party titles like Donkey Kong Bananza and Kirby Air Riders. Meanwhile, a myriad of excellent third-party games made it to the console, from indie gems like Hollow Knight: Silksong to surprise AAA releases like Assassin's Creed Shadows.

2026 is already showing that the Switch 2 isn't letting up when it comes to games of all stripes coming to the console. On the first-party front, the system will be graced with titles like Splatoon Raiders and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. Meanwhile, there is no shortage of new third-party hits making their way to the console, including Borderlands 4 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

If there are any serious marks against the Switch 2's games, it's that there are vanilla Switch games coming out that could've easily made it to the newer console, even accounting for the original system's high userbase. For example, having something like Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream come exclusively to the Switch 2 could've easily boosted the console's numbers in both the short and long run.

However, this mark does not detract from how well the Switch 2 has done as far as games are concerned. It all makes one look forward to whatever might be coming next.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Could Get a Price Hike

The Switch 2 has had a marvelous existence thus far. Between existing titles like Mario Kart World and anticipated hits like Borderlands 4, there is so much to look forward to in the system. Of course, this completely discounts one thought that could drag the system down: price hikes.

Presently, the console retails for $449.99, the same as at launch. This is considerably more than the original Switch's $299.99 price tag, although the advanced hardware does merit that price a little bit. This is not to mention that 2025 was a year when the console's competitors, those being the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, started to raise the prices of their consoles to offset the increased cost of hardware components.

By contrast, the Switch 2's current price point is not a bad deal, and even with the bundle that includes Mario Kart World — which comes up to $499.99 — it's still a nice bargain. However, this pricing advantage may not be for long, if industry pressure is to come by.

Shareholders, citing the decline in Nintendo's stock since its peak in August 2025, have called on the company to raise the price of the Switch 2. It has been suggested that the console's price could be raised to about $50 to $100 more, which would still come up to less than either the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S. However, the platform's price advantage would otherwise be completely negated.

The sad thing is that Nintendo might just go through with raising the Switch 2's price. They've already done so with the console's accessories, including the controllers, and the cost of physical games compared to digital downloads is astounding.

Above all else, Nintendo raising the Switch 2's price could spark backlash among fans and gamers, who could use the hikes as an excuse to move to other platforms, including handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck. The only hope on this end is that the price changes are marginal enough to keep fans and consumers at bay, lest they miss out on any genuinely good titles that will come to the Switch 2.