The Nintendo Switch 2 launched at $449.99 in June 2025. As of September 1, 2026, it costs $499.99 in the US. Nintendo announced the change in May, saying it was “in response to various changes in market conditions, which are expected to extend over the medium to long term.”
If you’re buying one this fall, the console alone is no longer the only obvious choice. There are now three other options from Nintendo: a Mario Kart World bundle, a Nintendo Switch Sports Resort bundle that arrives October 22, and a Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition on October 29. Here’s what each one includes, what it really saves you, and who it suits. All prices are US MSRP before tax.
What changed
- Switch 2 system: $449.99 to $499.99, effective September 1, per Nintendo of America.
- Original Switch: Nintendo said “pricing for the Nintendo Switch system is not changing.”
- Mario Kart World bundle: It launched at $499.99 in 2025. The new version, out September 18, is $549.99 and now adds a 3-month Nintendo Switch Online membership. VGC worked out that, after taking out the $7.99 value of that membership, the bundle is effectively $42 more than at launch.
The options, side by side
| Option | Price | Game included | Switch Online included | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switch 2 system | $499.99 | None | No | Available now |
| Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle | $549.99 | Mario Kart World (digital) | 3-month Individual | Available now |
| Switch 2 + Nintendo Switch Sports Resort Bundle | $529.99 | Switch Sports Resort (digital) | 3-month Individual | October 22 |
| Switch 2 – The Legend of Zelda – 40th Anniversary Edition | $519.99 | None | No | October 29 |
Every option includes the same core kit, per Nintendo’s store pages: the console, a pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers, the dock, Joy-Con 2 grip, two straps, AC adapter, USB-C charging cable and an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. The standard system and both game bundles come with light blue and light red Joy-Con 2. The Zelda edition has green and gold Joy-Con 2 and a black and gold dock with a Triforce design.
Prices for the three main options come from Nintendo’s store and news pages. The Zelda edition’s $519.99 price comes from Tom’s Hardware, since the Nintendo store page we checked lists the contents and date but didn’t show a price in its page text.
What the bundles actually save
Nintendo states the savings on its own pages, based on buying each item separately at MSRP:
Mario Kart World bundle: $37.98 saved. That lines up with $499.99 for the console, $79.99 for Mario Kart World, and $7.99 for a 3-month Switch Online membership, which Nintendo’s support page lists at that price.
Switch Sports Resort bundle: $27.98 saved. VGC reports the digital game is $49.99, so the math is $499.99 plus $49.99 plus $7.99.
Both savings figures assume you’d have bought the game and the membership anyway. If you don’t want Mario Kart World, the $50 extra over the bare console isn’t a saving.
Two other details from the fine print:
- The included membership auto-renews “at the then-current price unless canceled,” Nintendo says. If you don’t want to keep paying, turn off auto-renew after you redeem the code.
- Both bundles are listed as “available while supplies last.”
Which bundle fits you
Get the Mario Kart World bundle if you’d buy Mario Kart World anyway. It’s the biggest stated saving, and the game supports up to four players on one system and 24 online, per Nintendo. For most first-time buyers, this is the default choice.
Get the Switch Sports Resort bundle if you’re buying for a family or a group that wants something easy to pick up. Nintendo lists 12 motion-control sports, including tennis, bowling, archery, golf and newcomers like thumb wrestling and skateboarding. Up to four people can play on one system, and online play supports 2 to 16. It’s also $20 cheaper than the Mario Kart bundle. Note that it doesn’t arrive until October 22, and Nintendo lists TV and tabletop modes for this game, not handheld.
Get the Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition if the design matters to you. It’s $20 more than the standard console and doesn’t include a game. Nintendo says “game not included.” If you want it for the Ocarina of Time remake on November 5, that’s a separate $59.99 digital or $69.99 physical purchase. Our Ocarina of Time remake guide covers whether that’s worth it over the Switch Online version. Nintendo Life reported in September that some Zelda anniversary items were already selling out, so availability may be tight.
Get the console alone if you already own Switch games you want to carry over, or you don’t want either bundled game. Nintendo says Switch 2 plays compatible physical and digital Switch games, though some may not be supported or fully compatible.
Costs that aren’t in the box
A few extras to plan for, all per Nintendo’s product pages:
- Storage: 256GB built in, with part of that used by the system. Expansion needs microSD Express cards, sold separately. Nintendo estimates the Ocarina of Time remake at 27 GB and Switch Sports Resort at 16 GB.
- Online play: Needs a Switch Online membership after the bundled 3 months run out. Nintendo’s support page lists $19.99 a year for an individual membership or $49.99 a year with the Expansion Pack.
- Extra controllers: Multiplayer may need extra Joy-Con 2 or other controllers, sold separately.
- Video chat: GameChat video needs the Switch 2 Camera or a compatible USB camera, sold separately.
Our take
At $499.99, the Switch 2 alone is the least appealing way to buy one unless you already have games lined up. If you want Mario Kart World, the $549.99 bundle is the clear pick. For families, the $529.99 Switch Sports Resort bundle is cheaper and more party-friendly, as long as you can wait until October 22. Only get the Zelda edition if you want how it looks, because it costs more and includes less. Whichever you choose, turn off auto-renew on the bundled membership unless you plan to keep it.
FAQ
How much is the Switch 2 now? $499.99 in the US, up from $449.99 since September 1, 2026. Prices are before tax.
Did the original Switch go up too? No. Nintendo of America said the Nintendo Switch system’s pricing is not changing.
Does the Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition come with Ocarina of Time? No. Nintendo says no game is included. The remake is sold separately starting November 5.
Do the bundles come with physical games? No. Nintendo lists both Mario Kart World and Switch Sports Resort as digital downloads in the bundles.
Sources
- Nintendo: Price revision for Nintendo Switch 2 system (May 7, 2026)
- Nintendo: Two new Nintendo Switch 2 bundles (August 25, 2026)
- Nintendo Store: Nintendo Switch 2 system
- Nintendo Store: Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle
- Nintendo Store: Nintendo Switch 2 + Nintendo Switch Sports Resort Bundle
- Nintendo Store: Nintendo Switch Sports Resort
- Nintendo Store: Nintendo Switch 2 – The Legend of Zelda – 40th Anniversary Edition
- Nintendo: Retail offers
- Nintendo Support: How much does a Nintendo Switch Online membership cost?
- VGC: Nintendo relaunches Mario Kart World Switch 2 bundle at a higher price (August 25, 2026)
- Tom’s Hardware: Switch 2 Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition pre-orders
- Nintendo Life: Zelda’s limited-edition Switch 2 items selling out (September 2026)
