Nintendo will release a $500 bundle of the Switch 2 console and 1 of its games in early June.

On May 12, local time, IT outlet Engadget reported that Nintendo will raise the standalone Switch 2 price by $50 from September, from the current $450, and has introduced a limited bundle that buyers can purchase before the increase.

The bundle consists of the Switch 2 console and 1 game. The available titles are "Mario Kart World", "Donkey Kong Bananza" and "Pokemon Pokopia". The outlet said the games are effectively 3 major exclusives for the Switch 2. Nintendo said the bundle will be sold for a limited period "until stock runs out".

The pricing structure makes the bundle's appeal clearer. The standalone Switch 2 currently costs $450. Adding 1 first-party game separately would increase total spending. If the standalone price rises to $500 from September, the cost of buying the console and 1 Nintendo game together would swell to about $570. The $500 bundle can be seen as a product that locks in demand ahead of the price increase.

The outlet cited chip supply pressures driven by artificial intelligence demand and tariffs as reasons behind the Switch 2 price increase. "The AI-driven chip crunch and tariffs are forcing the $50 price increase from September," it said. The Switch 2 price adjustment reflects shifts in components and the trade environment more directly than a simple product strategy.

The bundle may not be available for long. The outlet, citing Nintendo's phrase "until stock runs out", mentioned the possibility that most supplies could sell out before the September price increase. With a price hike already signalled, the bundle could be a relatively favourable option for consumers.

A broader trend of price increases in the console market also aligns with Nintendo's decision. The Xbox Series X Digital Edition has risen to $600, and the standard PlayStation 5 is priced at $650. The Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 have become more expensive than their launch prices nearly 6 years after release, and the Switch 2 is set to enter the same trend after its release last year.

In this situation, Nintendo's bundle is seen as a step to get ahead of demand just before a price increase, beyond a simple package sale. The selectable games are centred on Switch 2 exclusives, aiming to tie early users to the company's core titles. The next points to watch are how quickly supplies run out after sales begin in early June and whether the bundle will be expanded further before the September price increase.