Nintendo told us in May this was coming and on Monday it arrived. The recommended price of a Nintendo Switch 2 in Australia is now $769.95, up from $699.95. Retailers moved on the day. If you were on the fence, the fence just got $70 taller.
Nintendo Australia announced the change on 8 May 2026 and it took effect on 1 September. The Switch 2 console goes from a recommended $699.95 to $769.95 in Australia, a $70 rise. In New Zealand it goes from NZ$799.95 to NZ$969.95, which is a much steeper NZ$170.
Nintendo's stated reason is changes in market conditions expected to last over the medium to long term. It did not spell those out in the Australian notice. Coverage of Nintendo's global announcement pointed to component costs, exchange rates and memory prices, but that detail is from reporting, not from the Australian notice itself.
The original Nintendo Switch is not affected. Nintendo says its pricing is unchanged.
What this means at the shops
The $769.95 figure is a recommended price. Retailers set their own, and in the lead-up to 1 September several were clearing bundles at the old price or below. Those deals are largely gone now. If you see a Switch 2 under $700 at this point it is either old stock or a genuine sale, and worth grabbing.
Nintendo has not said anything about game prices or accessories changing alongside the console, and I have not seen evidence of that in Australia.