Gamers throughout the United States are poised for a new era in hybrid gaming with the final opening of pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 on April 24th. After months of wild speculation that the console would raise its price because of its improved hardware and feature set additions, Nintendo has cleared the air; the Nintendo Switch 2 will be priced the same as its predecessor. For this act, fans and industry analysts alike could only pour moments of praise on Nintendo.
A Long-Lost Sequel
Selling more than 130 Million units globally since its introduction back in 2017, Nintendo Switch is one of the most famous consoles in the history of gaming. Now that Nintendo Switch 2 is here, that marks the first significant move in hardware updates since the OLED model was launched in 2021. Although Nintendo is very hush-hush regarding many specifications of the system, sources close to the company claim that there would be worthy performance upgrades.
Sources also claim that the Nintendo Switch 2 will feature a custom Nvidia chip specifically for improved graphics and processing power, and also backward compatibility with titles from the original Switch lineup. Additionally, there will be a bigger OLED screen, better battery life, and upgraded Joy-Cons.
No Price Increase-Strategic Decision
Perhaps the most shocking of all revelations coming out in Nintendo’s latest announcement would be the fact that the Nintendo Switch 2 is pegged at the original launch price for $299.99 in the U.S. In fact, with rising component prices and overall price hikes in the gaming industry, most analysts had predicted at least a hike of $50.
But apparently, Nintendo is playing the long game. An unnamed spokesperson for the company said: “Affordability has always been part of our brand identity. We want the Nintendo Switch 2 to be accessible to as many players as possible from day one.”
What brings along Pre-orders?
There will be many types of bundles for gamers who are pre-ordering their consoles on April 24. The basic package will come with the Nintendo Switch 2 console, two upgraded Joy-Cons, and dock with enhanced TV-out resolution. Some retailers are selling pre-order bonuses as exclusive in-game items or collectible merchandise based on upcoming first party titles like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Time and Mario Kart X.
Also available to early adopters will be a limited launch edition bundle that features a special console design and a digital download of Super Mario Galaxy 3.
Market Impact and Expectations of the Gaming Community
With Sony and Microsoft continuing to promote higher-performance machines, along with portability, innovation, and affordability, this is what makes Nintendo the favorite. If not by performance, the Nintendo Switch 2 will not compete with the PS5 or Xbox Series X, but its versatile possibilities and exclusive games library are part of what makes it competitive.
The forums already lit up as well as social media. “That’s exactly how I hoped it would be, better hardware, same price. Nintendo’s got it”, wrote a Reddit user.
And of course, an industry analyst like Daniel Ahmad also tweeted, “Keeping the price point constant despite upgrades will be a blessing for Nintendo at the holidays. The Nintendo Switch 2 might well become the must-have console of 2025.”
Conclusion
While full specifications and game lineup information will not be released until Nintendo’s upcoming June Direct presentation, anticipation has continued to grow. Many feel key titles such as Metroid Prime 4 and a new Pokémon entry could be flagship games during the first year of the consol
Retailers such as Best Buy, GameStop, and Amazon have now updated their websites in preparation for the April 24 pre-order rush. Fans are urged to act quickly, as stocks are expected to sell out within hours.
