Nintendo Stock Falls 8% After Switch 2 Price Hike

Nintendo shares fell 8% in Tokyo on May 11 after the company announced price increases for its Switch 2 console, according to Reuters. The Japanese-language Switch 2 Japan model will cost 59,980 yen (US$380), up 10,000 yen (US$64), effective May 25. Prices in markets including the US will rise from September 1 as electronics makers face higher memory chip costs.

Market Reaction and Investor Concerns

Investors expressed concern that Nintendo’s outlook and game lineup may not be strong enough to support the new console at higher price points. Nintendo reported strong hardware sales for the year ended March, but its forecast for the current year missed market expectations.

Analyst Assessment

Kazunori Ito, an analyst at Morningstar, noted that lower game shipment guidance could signal weak confidence in the company’s pipeline. The reduced software forecast raised questions about Nintendo’s ability to drive adoption of the premium-priced hardware.