Analyst Predicts Nintendo Switch 2 Priced at $399
Feb 21,2025 | FUNLAB-Cheriko
Expert reviews of the nintendo switch 2 and price predictions, which are predicted to be priced at $399
As Nintendo prepares to reveal more details about its next-generation console – the Switch 2 – at an April 4th event, speculation about the system’s price has intensified. One analyst suggests Nintendo will price the Switch 2 similarly to the original model to avoid alienating its existing user base.
In an analysis of Nintendo’s next-gen strategy, Joost van Dreunen, co-founder of SuperData Research, predicts the Switch 2 will cost $399. According to van Dreunen, this price point represents a "critical psychological threshold that balances ambitions for premium hardware with accessibility for mainstream markets."
Van Dreunen notes that this pricing would allow Nintendo to profit from Switch 2 sales while keeping the console significantly cheaper than competing systems. This is crucial as the new console enters a market vastly different from the landscape when the original Switch launched.
The analyst highlights that the rise of handheld gaming devices, such as the Steam Deck, which offers PC gaming at lower costs than custom gaming PCs, has influenced Nintendo’s strategy. However, Nintendo retains an advantage through its strong first-party game lineup, which consistently drives hardware sales.
"The emergence of premium handhelds like Valve’s Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally doesn’t represent direct competition, but rather validates Nintendo’s positioning," van Dreunen writes. "While these devices share form-factor similarities with Nintendo, their $549+ price tags and PC gaming ecosystems create clear market segmentation. Nintendo has proven its ability to maintain platform profitability through strategic pricing."
Van Dreunen also observes that the Switch 2 enters a market where rigid console generations have dissolved. Consumers increasingly expect to retain digital game libraries, and Nintendo appears to acknowledge this through the Switch 2’s backward compatibility.
"For Nintendo, the Switch’s eight-year evolution aligns with industry trends toward digital monetization and reduced reliance on hardware refresh cycles," van Dreunen states. "The emphasis on backward compatibility signals Nintendo views platform longevity as central to sustaining its capital-efficient model. Rather than driving growth through periodic hardware launches, the focus shifts to maximizing software revenue and digital engagement over an extended lifecycle."
The Nintendo Switch 2 was officially announced in January. While details remain scarce, the announcement confirmed key features, including a larger display, redesigned aesthetics emphasizing color accents, and new Joy-Con attachment mechanisms.
The Switch 2 will maintain full compatibility with all existing Switch games, both physical and digital. However, pending further details, some niche titles may face compatibility issues.
Though software support specifics are unconfirmed, Nintendo teased a new Mario Kart title in its announcement trailer. Reports suggest third-party developers, including Microsoft, Ubisoft, and Konami, are creating games for the system.
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