Nintendo is moving to raise the price of the Switch 2, citing unstable memory supply and rising costs, putting early launch demand back in focus. Assessments say it still offers sufficient value to buy now, given its exclusive lineup and hardware performance.

On May 21, IT outlet TechRadar reported that Nintendo will raise the Switch 2 price in the United States by $50 to $499.99 from Sept. 1. Price adjustments are expected in other major markets, including the UK, Europe and Canada, within the coming months.

Ahead of the price increase, market attention is focused on whether it makes sense to buy the Switch 2 now. The assessment reviewed platform competitiveness centered on five major Switch 2-only titles. It concluded that the current lineup alone can justify buying the system.

Mario Kart World was cited as a flagship title. Fans were split over its open-world structure and how tracks are linked, but responses said the series’ competitive feel and overall completeness were maintained. In particular, a new mode called Knockout Tour was assessed as sharply raising tension by eliminating the lowest-ranked participants each round. Handling, character lineup and visual completeness were also cited as strengths.

Donkey Kong Bananza won favorable reviews for elements involving environmental destruction and an exploration-focused structure. Still, reviewers remained somewhat cautious about whether it is a killer title capable of driving the entire Nintendo platform. The view was that it falls short of the pull of a 3D Mario game or a new The Legend of Zelda release.

By contrast, Pokemon Pokopia was introduced as the highest-rated Switch 2 exclusive so far. Co-developed by Game Freak and Omega Force under Koei Tecmo, the game is a social simulation about rebuilding a Pokemon community in a post-apocalyptic world. Some critics rated it as more complete than Animal Crossing.

Other titles include Yoshi and the Mysterious Almanac, an exploration game aimed at families and long-time fans, with hand-drawn-style graphics and stop-motion presentation cited as strengths. Kirby’s Air Rider, a hybrid game combining racing and combat, drew attention because Masahiro Sakurai of the Super Smash Bros. series took part.

The hardware itself is also a factor in the buying decision. The Switch 2 supports 4K output in docked mode, and a 1080p display in handheld mode along with 120-frames-per-second operation for some games. It also retains virtual surround sound and backward compatibility with existing Switch games. A new Handheld Mode Boost feature was cited as an advantage because it lets players enjoy existing Switch games at 1080p while handheld.

Upcoming releases are also building anticipation. Nintendo has teased The Duskblood, a new Fire Emblem and Splatoon Raiders. The market is also discussing the possibility of a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and the reveal of a new 3D Mario. Pokemon Wind·Wave is also slated for 2027.

Despite the burden of the price increase, the industry says the Switch 2 has already secured sufficient purchase value when considering its current exclusive lineup and hardware completeness. Its strength is cited as going beyond a simple next-generation device by bolstering both exclusive content and its hybrid handheld-and-docked ecosystem at the same time.