Nintendo Switch 2 Price Confirmed: Will £449.99 Be Worth It? Where To Pre-order

Nintendo's highly anticipated Switch 2 has finally been unveiled, with a confirmed price of £449.99 ($571.49) and a launch date set for 5 June 2025.

Announced during Nintendo Direct, the reveal has sparked debate among fans ahead of pre-orders opening on 9 April—does this premium hybrid console justify its price tag?

Tech Upgrades vs. Price Hike

The Switch 2 features a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen, 4K output when docked, and gameplay of up to 120fps—an impressive leap from the original's 6.2-inch display and 720p handheld resolution. It also introduces magnetic Joy-Cons with mouse-like rollerball functionality, 256GB of internal storage, and backwards compatibility with most Switch 1 titles, adding to its appeal.

Launch title Mario Kart World, exclusive to Switch 2, headlines a lineup including Donkey Kong Bananza (17 July 2025) and enhanced classics like Breath of the Wild.

At £449.99 ($571.49), it's a £150 ($190.50) jump from the original Switch's £279.99 ($355.49) debut in 2017, aligning with inflation but outpacing rivals like the £359.99 ($457.19) PS5 Digital

Games now cost £69.99 ($88.89), up from £49.99 ($63.49), with a £499.99 ($634.99) bundle including Mario Kart World. Sources predict 14.7 million units sold in 2025, suggesting confidence in its appeal despite the price (Business Wire, 2 April 2025). Yet, with some game cards offering only download keys, physical collectors feel shortchanged, raising questions about long-term value.

Pre-order Logistics and Fan Frenzy

Pre-orders kick off 9 April 2025, with Nintendo prioritising My Nintendo Store access for Switch Online members active for two years by 31 March 2025, to combat scalpers. UK retailer Smyths Toys lists it at £432.98 ($550.28) with release-day delivery, while Currys and Shop To allow interest registration.

In the US, Best Buy offers midnight launch pickups on 5 June 2025, and Walmart has opened pre-order pages .'Take a closer look at the new features of #NintendoSwitch2, launching June 5th.,' Nintendo UK tweeted, signaling robust stock plans. However, the original Switch's 2017 shortages loom large, and scalping fears persist.

Yet, with some game cards offering only download keys, physical collectors feel shortchanged, raising questions about long-term value. And rightly so, the long wait, plus the cost associated with it entails that the buyers get their money's worth.

Nintendo's anti-scalping measures and a global preview tour—starting 4 April 2025 in New York and hitting London 11-13 April 2025—aim to build hype, but the price tests loyalty in a market where the Steam Deck OLED offers similar portability for £479 ($608.33).

For Nintendo, this pricing reflects a bet on premium hardware and exclusives, though it risks alienating budget-conscious fans.

What This Means

For Nintendo, this pricing reflects a bold bet on premium hardware and exclusives, though it risks alienating budget-conscious fans. Waiting for post-launch reviews or price drops—a trend with past consoles—might sway skeptics, especially if rivals like Valve or Sony counter with aggressive promotions.

The Switch 2's success now hinges not just on specs, but on whether its 4K leap, magnetic Joy-Cons, and flagship titles like Mario Kart World can justify the premium in an era where gamers increasingly weigh cost against cross-platform flexibility.

As of 3 April 2025, the Switch 2's £449.99 ($571.49) tag promises innovation. Pre-order at My Nintendo Store, Smyths, or Best Buy if you're convinced—or hold off until June reveals its true mettle.