Nintendo’s first-generation Switch lineup has just gotten a lot pricier in the U.S. After selling the original Switch for $299.99 since its 2017 debut, Nintendo quietly bumped the price to $339.99 on its online store. The OLED model has jumped from $349.99 to $399.99, while the more budget-oriented Switch Lite now carries a $229.99 price tag instead of $199.99. Even popular accessories haven’t been spared: the Alarmo clock and Joy-Con 2 controllers each saw a $10 uptick, now costing $109.99 and $89.99, respectively.

While Nintendo officially rolled out the changes on Friday, retail sites like Target briefly leaked the new pricing a couple of days earlier, giving gamers advance warning of the upcoming adjustments. These increases mirror similar moves in Canada, where prices rose by roughly CAD 20–40 for first-gen Switch models earlier this summer.

In its announcement, Nintendo cited shifting “market conditions” as the driving force behind the price adjustments. Though the company didn’t go into detail, analysts point to rising component costs, currency fluctuations, and broader inflationary pressures. The timing also coincides with new U.S. “reciprocal” tariffs, signed into law just a day before the announcement, imposing a 20 percent levy on goods imported from Vietnam—home to much of Nintendo’s current production.

This latest wave of tariffs marks an escalation in the trade tensions that have roiled the consumer-tech industry over the past two years. Other console makers like Microsoft briefly flirted with price hikes on hardware and software before rolling some back amid customer backlash, but Nintendo seems ready to hold firm for now.

Importantly, these hikes do not apply to the recently launched Switch 2. The next-generation console remains at its $449.99 MSRP, as do all physical and digital game titles and Switch 2 accessories. Given that the OLED version of the older Switch now only sits $50 below the base Switch 2—despite lacking upgrades like microSD Express support and a larger screen—Nintendo may be nudging more customers toward the newer model.

And indeed, strong demand for the Switch 2 could make that strategy pay off: despite early supply constraints, Nintendo has already moved over 6 million units since its June launch. With the next-gen console offering faster load times and improved performance, the $50 premium over even the priciest first-gen model looks increasingly reasonable.

For gamers who have held onto the original Switch or the budget-friendly Lite model, the hikes represent a major bump in entry cost. Prepaid gift cards, third-party retailers, and even some subscription-service bundles may start to look more attractive as consumers try to offset the new price floor. Meanwhile, Sony and Microsoft continue to juggle price points for their legacy hardware—Sony paired recent PS5 price cuts with PC bundles, and Microsoft briefly increased accessory prices before retracting them amid social media pushback.

Industry observers note that last-gen consoles often see gradual price drops following a new release; Nintendo’s choice to do the opposite bucks that trend, signaling confidence in its enduring first-party lineup and the unique appeal of portable gaming.

Nintendo left the door open for further adjustments down the road, warning that “market conditions” will continue to inform pricing decisions. With global inflation still elevated and trade policy developments unfolding, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more tweaks—whether in North America, Europe, or beyond.

For now, bargain hunters may eye refurbished units, used-game marketplaces, or holiday sales to lock in a better deal. But for players committed to that unmistakable Switch-style flexibility, the new $339.99 starting price may simply become the new norm. Whatever happens next, Nintendo’s latest pricing move reaffirms that even evergreen consoles aren’t immune to the shifting economic landscape.