Analysts Offer Mixed Predictions for Nintendo Switch 2 Launch

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The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is shaping up to be a game-changer, both literally and figuratively. Priced between $399 and $499, it’s anticipated to be Nintendo’s priciest console yet. Surprisingly, the higher price tag doesn’t seem to be a deterrent, with expectations that it will still sell like hotcakes when it drops as soon as June 2025.

Gaming industry insiders have been buzzing with mixed emotions about the Switch 2’s debut predictions, including its launch window, price point, manufacturing costs, and immediate sales outlook. While some details might be up in the air, everything should become clearer by early spring 2025.

The announcement of the Switch 2 will hit its two-month anniversary on March 16. Since unveiling their plans, Nintendo has kept mum about further specifics, though they’re set to break the silence during an April 2 Nintendo Direct dedicated wholly to this successor.

In anticipation of this event, Bloomberg gathered insights from various analysts, painting a complex picture of what’s to come with the Switch 2. Signs indicate that it will indeed be Nintendo’s most expensive console. Experts like Serkan Toto from Japan predict the price tag to start at $399, marking a 33% increase from the original Switch’s $299. Analysts Yijia Zhai, Robin Zhu, and Hideki Yasuda concur, while Hiroshi Yamashina of Macquarie Capital suggests it could range between $399 and $449.

But why exactly is the Switch 2 so costly? The reasons are manifold, with inflation being a significant factor. The game-changing hardware improvements also play a huge role. Analyst Yasuda highlights that the advanced Nvidia system-on-chip intended for the new console will cost Nintendo between $130 and $150, notably higher than the estimated $80 cost per unit of the Tegra X1 chip used in the original Switch. This leads Yasuda to propose that a $499 price might not be off the mark.

The situation in the U.S. further complicates pricing due to tariffs implemented by the Trump administration. Still, Nintendo’s President Shuntaro Furukawa has downplayed these concerns, suggesting that the financial impact may not be significant.

Despite the potential price hike, experts predict the Switch 2 will fly off the shelves. Analyst Zhu foresees Nintendo gearing up for tremendously high demand, possibly stocking between 6 and 8 million units for the launch, potentially marking the largest console debut in gaming history. Nintendo is reportedly set to manufacture 20 million units throughout 2025, with a targeted release anticipated for June.

As the June launch approaches, the excitement and speculation surrounding the Switch 2 only continue to grow, promising an exhilarating new chapter in Nintendo’s storied legacy.