Retail Pre-Orders Start April 24 in the U.S.
Nintendo confirmed retail pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 began on April 24, 2025, in the United States and the base model of Nintendo Switch 2 remains priced at $449.99 as announced on April 2 and Nintendo also maintains the launch pricing of the Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle at $499.99 while the company confirmed unchanged prices for Mario Kart World at $79.99 and Donkey Kong Bananza at $69.99.
Switch 2 Accessories See Price Adjustments
Nintendo adjusted prices for Switch 2 accessories due to recent market condition changes and these updates follow the initial prices announced on April 2 while some accessories now carry higher costs than before as of April 18, 2025, with the updated list including:
- Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller – $84.99
- Joy-Con 2 Pair – $94.99
- Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip – $39.99
- Joy-Con 2 Strap – $13.99
- Joy-Con 2 Wheel Set – $24.99
- Nintendo Switch 2 Camera – $54.99
- Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set – $119.99
- Carrying Case & Screen Protector – $39.99
- All-In-One Carrying Case – $84.99
- AC Adapter – $34.99
- Samsung microSD Express Card 256GB – $59.99
Nintendo issued an apology for the retail pre-order delay and acknowledged customer patience while confirming the Switch 2 remains on schedule for a full release on June 5, 2025.
Digital and Physical Game Pricing Confirmed
Physical releases of Switch 2 games will match digital prices and Nintendo reaffirmed that Mario Kart World costs $79.99 in both formats while Donkey Kong Bananza will retail for $69.99 and rumours of $90 physical games were inaccurate and unfounded as retail listings from Best Buy, Target, and Walmart confirmed price consistency.
Game-Key Cards Dominate Third-Party Physical Releases
Game-Key cards will represent the majority of third-party physical releases for Switch 2 and these cards contain no game data but enable downloads from Nintendo’s servers while users must insert the card each time to play unlike standard downloads although players can lend or resell Game-Key cards freely but they may present challenges for users with slow internet or limited internal storage and while some games like Cyberpunk 2077 and No Sleep for Kaname Date are not using Game-Key formats most third-party titles are with Nintendo Everything publishing a partial list of Game-Key card releases.
Switch 2 Upgrade Packs Introduce Tiered Pricing
Nintendo introduced a two-tier system for Switch 2 Upgrade Packs where visual upgrade-only packs cost $10 and packs with added content, modes, or DLC cost $20 while examples include:
- Breath of the Wild upgrade pack – $10
- Tears of the Kingdom upgrade pack – $10
- Super Mario Party Jamboree upgrade pack – $20
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land upgrade pack – $20
The full Switch 2 Editions reflect the original game price plus upgrade pack cost and Kirby and Mario Party Switch 2 Editions cost $80 while Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition is priced at $70 and Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition is listed at $80.
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Physical Cards Include Upgrade Packs for Switch 2
Some physical Switch 2 cards will include the original Switch game and upgrade pack with Nintendo printing the following on the front of these packages:
“Includes the Nintendo Switch game and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack. Upgrade pack also available separately. For details, visit support.nintendo.com/switch2/upgradepack.”
These editions may play on original Switch consoles though Nintendo has not confirmed consistency across all such titles.
Upgrade Packs Provide Cost-Effective Options
Players can reduce upgrade costs by purchasing used or discounted original games and many Switch games like Zelda and Kirby sell new for under $50 on platforms like eBay which allows users to add an upgrade pack at a reduced total cost.
Third-Party Game Pricing Varies
Third-party Switch 2 titles show broader price ranges than Nintendo-published games with Square Enix’s Bravely Default Remaster costing $40 while a special edition of Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion will retail at $100 and its standard edition remains priced at $70.
Pre-Orders Caused Retail Website Delays
Switch 2 pre-orders opened at midnight Eastern on April 24 at major retailers including Best Buy, Target, and Walmart while heavy traffic caused order delays and website issues as listings for games, bundles, and accessories went live simultaneously and Nintendo aims to streamline supply amid high demand ahead of the June 5 release.
