Nintendo is unlikely to announce the price of the Switch 2 before the Nintendo Direct on April 2, but a recent leak may have revealed the information ahead of schedule. A Canadian Costco employee shared pictures of an internal product listing and an in-store price tag for “Nintendo Switch Place Holder,” which was incorrectly labeled as “Palce Holder.”
The images display a price of $499 CAD, which is $100 more than the original Switch and $50 more than the Switch OLED in Canada. In the United States, Nintendo sells the original Switch for $299 and the OLED model for $349. If the leaked listing pertains to the Switch 2, it could indicate a launch price of $399 USD.
The $399 price point aligns with projections from many analysts and insiders over the past few months. Nintendo mentioned in a recent investor meeting that it plans to “consider the affordable prices that consumers expect from Nintendo products” during the release of the Switch 2.
There remains the possibility that this product listing is for an unannounced Switch 1 bundle, that it was entered incorrectly, or that the employee fabricated the information. The official pricing details are expected to be confirmed on April 2 at the upcoming Nintendo Direct.nint
All Nintendo Switch 2 rumors ahead of the launch
As anticipation builds for the Nintendo Switch 2, leaks and insider reports have provided a steady stream of information about the upcoming console. While Nintendo will officially unveil the device during a Nintendo Direct on April 2, here’s a breakdown of the biggest rumors leading up to the launch.
Price and release date speculation
Early leaks suggested different pricing possibilities for the Switch 2. A Finnish retailer, Konsolinet, listed a release date of May 9, 2025, aligning with Nintendo’s history of Friday launches. Meanwhile, an Italian retailer, Gamesandmovies.it, posted a €364.99 (~$380) pre-order price, leading analysts to believe the U.S. price would be $399 USD.
Now, a more recent leak from a Canadian Costco employee may have confirmed the price. A product listing labeled “Nintendo Switch Place Holder” was spotted at $499 CAD, which translates to approximately $399 USD, reinforcing earlier speculation.
Hardware upgrades and new features
One of the most intriguing leaks came from a Nintendo patent that suggests the Joy-Cons will have mouse-like functionality. The new controllers may feature an optical sensor that allows them to be used like a PC mouse, making them more precise for certain gameplay styles. Additionally, the controllers are rumored to have:
- Magnetic attachment instead of traditional sliding rails
- Drift-free analog sticks to address one of the biggest complaints about the current Switch
- A new button whose function remains unknown
The console itself is expected to feature a larger screen and a redesigned kickstand for better viewing angles. Battery life improvements are also rumored, but details remain scarce.
Confirmed and leaked games
Nintendo has officially confirmed that the Switch 2 will be backward compatible with the current Switch’s game library, but leaks have also hinted at a massive launch lineup that includes both first-party and third-party titles:
First-party titles:
- Mario Kart 9 (rumored to support 24-person races)
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Remaster
- A new 3D Super Mario game
- A Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Third-party titles:
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection
- Doom: The Dark Ages
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage
- Diablo 4
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Tekken 8
These leaks suggest Nintendo is aiming for stronger third-party support, potentially putting the Switch 2 in direct competition with handheld PCs like the Steam Deck.
Featured image credit: Nintendo
