This article was updated by Andrea Trama on March 26, 2026, with reference to Nintendo’s new statement and clarification about prices. It was first published on March 25.
Some physical Nintendo Switch 2 games published by Nintendo will be more expensive than their digital counterparts. Nintendo stated that these price changes between Switch 2 physical and digital games will begin later this year, starting with one of its spring 2026 first-party offerings.
Along with exclusive Switch 2 games, the latest Nintendo console is also backward compatible with almost every Nintendo Switch game. In March 2026, Nintendo released a Switch 2 system update that introduced Handheld Boost Mode for users to peruse. The Switch 2’s Handheld Boost Mode allows Switch games to run at 1080p on a Switch 2 console while in Handheld Mode, resulting in clearer visuals compared to the original Switch’s 720p Handheld Mode resolution. Though this feature causes the Switch 2’s battery to drain faster, games like Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Metroid Prime Remastered have been proven to run better in Handheld Boost Mode.
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Some Switch 2 Physical and Digital Games Will Have Split Pricing
With the Switch 2 approaching its first anniversary, Nintendo stated that the costs of some first-party published titles will change in the coming months. Nintendo confirmed that the prices of some first-party titles exclusive to Switch 2 will have split pricing on physical and digital releases of the same game. Nintendo cited the costs of producing and manufacturing these games in physical and digital formats as the main reason behind its decision. Nintendo claimed that this change would give players a choice in how they can buy and enjoy Nintendo games.
However, Nintendo clarified that, since retail partners set their own MSRPs for physical and digital games, the pricing for each title will still vary per retailer. Nintendo stated that the price split is also in effect on pre-orders for Yoshi and the Mysterious Book on Nintendo’s website. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book launches May 21, with digital downloads requiring users to set aside 20.6 GB of storage space on the Switch 2 console.
In response to IGN’s inquiry about price changes, Nintendo said:
“The cost of physical games is not going up.
“This means that when Nintendo sells digital versions of Nintendo published games exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 to consumers in the U.S., those prices will have an MSRP that is lower than their physical counterparts.
“Retail partners set their own prices for physical and digital games, and pricing for each title may vary.”
As of this writing, the digital edition of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book costs $59.99 on My Nintendo Store, while physical pre-orders are listed at $69.99. However, it is unclear if the May 2026 price update will be retroactive to other Switch 2 first-party games. For example, physical and digital copies of Pokemon Pokopia and Mario Kart World are currently priced, respectively, at $69.99 and $79.99. Additionally, the price change does not apply to games that are available on the original Switch or other platforms. With some third-party Switch 2 games utilizing the controversial Game-Key Card format as a way to cut manufacturing costs, it remains to be seen how Nintendo’s split pricing approach will fare comparatively.
Nintendo Has More Economic Decisions to Make
Despite the changes, Nintendo still has some manufacturing obstacles to navigate. With Nintendo Switch 2 consoles having lower-than-expected sales in the US, reports indicated that Nintendo may decrease how many Switch 2 consoles it produces in the upcoming quarter. The downturn was reportedly unrelated to the ongoing global DRAM shortage crisis, and instead was pinned on Nintendo users waiting for more Switch 2 exclusive games to come out before upgrading from the original Switch console. With Pokemon Winds and Waves releasing in 2027 rather than 2026, time will tell how that will influence the decisions of Nintendo fans looking to jump to the Switch 2.
Although the Switch 2 has been unaffected by the RAM crisis so far, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated in February that it would keep an eye on the situation before making any decisions that could change the price of the Switch 2. With the Switch 2 decreasing its production output, and RAM prices still spiraling out of control, fans looking to pick up a new Nintendo console may not want to wait much longer before prices potentially change.
- Released
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May 21, 2026
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
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May 21, 2026
