Update [Mon 13th Sep, 2021 10:00 BST]: The price cut has now been made official, with some retailers – including Nintendo's own store – now selling stock at the new price of £259/€269.
Update [Sun 12th Sep, 2021 13:45 BST]: The same Twitter account has now shared an update, and it seems the price of the Switch will be reduced to a figure even lower than originally stated at one particular store - dropping the price to €249. Elsewhere, the system is still expected to be around the €270 mark, as originally reported.
"I announced it to you before the whole world, the price drop on the Switch is coming tomorrow and it will even be at 249 € at Leclerc Quimper!"
The translation of a now-deleted follow-up tweet also mentioned how this price drop would apparently be "permanent" and "national" (within France), but there's been no official confirmation of this.
In related news, Gamereactor Spain has corroborated the original 'Nintend'Alerts' tweet in its own story and mentions how the 2019 Switch model will be "permanently" discounted to less than 300 Euros throughout Spain (via VGC).
Original article [Fri 10th Sep, 2021 02:30 BST]: In the lead-up to the release of the Switch OLED model next month, there's a story doing the rounds online about the base model Switch (which originally launched in March 2017) receiving a price cut. This information comes from 'Nintend'Alerts' - a Twitter account with more than 80,000 followers that has reportedly "proven reliable and reputable in the past".
The source claims this price cut will take place next week in France - reducing the cost of the system from €329 to €270.
While there's no mention of a similar price cut taking place in other parts of the world, it wouldn't necessarily be a surprise if Nintendo or retailers in other locations took the same course of action elsewhere. It's not clear at this stage if this would be temporary or permanent, and there are suggestions the OLED model could replace the original system.
Could you see a price cut like this happening ahead of the new model's launch? Leave your thoughts down in the comments.
[source twitter.com, via comicbook.com]
Comments 96
I'll believe it when I see it.
rumours are getting less and less exciting these days.
I remember back in the playground when there’d be hushed whispers from the boy whose uncle worked at Nintendo.
“Don’t tell anyone but they’re going to cut the price of the Switch by a few quid”
This rumor is as likely as a Switch Pro coming out in 2021. lol
I'd be happy to be wrong of course, but I don't see them releasing the OLED model at 350 only to drop the OG model's price. Just doesn't make sense.
Nintendo could surprise everyone and release the OLED model cheaper than originally announced and drop the OG model's price at the same time. But I doubt that as well.
However I think that this rumor is probably actually true, from a certain point of view. The OG Switch will probably drop in price... on Black Friday just for that weekend.
Had the OLED model been priced the same as the existing one, then this would make sense.
I can’t imagine very many people coughing up the goods for the more expensive OLED variant if the standard model is substantially cheaper.
Why cough up AU$540 when the regular model is frequently available under RRP at around AU$399?
If this is true, I don't see why anyone would spring for the Switch OLED. The $50 price bump was already a tough sell considering the lack of any performance improvements.
If it goes in the usa too I might think about getting one probably not tho. at least second hand switches could be cheaper too
Another day another rumor
I'm buying an Oled switch to replace my old one. No the old one isn't broken, in fact it runs perfectly fine BUT OLED.
Yeah sure the specs are the same BUT OLED!
Yeah this OLED model does nothing to address the games that have framerate issues but OLED!
Sure it's the same 1080 docked, BUT OLED!!!!!
Besides it's important I support Nintendo! They are counting on my support!
If that translates to a $60 price cut I'd probably buy one of those new-ish red box Switches just to have a backup for my day 1 model. I play 90% docked anyway so I have no need for the fake Pro.
In Europe, the current Switch is just €20 cheaper than the OLED model (€330 vs €350), so a price cut for the current Switch model makes sense. Such a price reduction wouldn't make much sense elsewhere, where the price difference between the current and OLED Switch is much greater (i.e. $300 vs $350).
Anyways, I'm fairly confident Nintendo will discontinue the current Switch within the next 12-18 months and replace it with the OLED model as the defacto hybrid Switch model. This price reduction may be happening to clear remaining stock of the current Switch.
As soon as the stock situation is normal, I'll buy an OLED, just because it's a better and bigger screen.
I considered this when they announced the $350 OLED price which seemed REALLY HIGH for a 4 1/2 year old console with a new screen. So my thought process was - announce it for $350 now so people keep buying the current one for $300, then drop them both by $50 at launch. $199, $249, $299. Until they stop making the $249 version.
Edit: Yup, my first post first article, 32 of 760!! still groggy and surprised.
"It really does feel more like a $299 revision than a $399 Pro. Switch should probably be only $249 by now anyway, it's over 4 years old."
https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/nintendo-switch-oled-model-price-release-date-specs-battery-life-and-where-it-leaves-switch-pro
Rumour or not, I think it's the natural thing to do if we are to assume the intention was to really replace the original. Makes sense since internally it's not much different.
Great! Can’t wait to claim my ambassador program games!
To help combat against scalpers, it would be wise to dropped the price of the base model asap until its production units sold out and discontinue then make the OLED models and the Lite models the only two at retailers so anyone who wants one can finally get one.
It would be a surprise given the chip shortage, I wasn't expecting price drops that is for sure
@Vexx234
Once again.....I cannot stress this enough, but it's the developers to blame for frame rate issues. It has nothing to do with hardware limitations unless we're talking about ports.
But games like Sonic Colors Ultimate should've been made on Switch hardware to run at 60fps so it could run at 120fps on the PS5 and XSX. Games like Age of Calamity and Bowser's Fury didn't have to run at 30fps if the developers weren't bogged down by lockdown and had time to polish both games.
The Switch is somewhere between the power of the PS3 and PS4, or the Xbox 360 and Xbox One. If games on those consoles all ran at 60fps, why couldn't the Switch? We've already seen some games run at great frame rates on the Switch. It couldn't possibly be hardware if we have all that.
@tangeraniumm It's not really much of a tough sell when you consider how much better OLED screens are compared to the standard LED the current Switch has. (Unless you've never seen an OLED screen in person, but there's a reason OLED TVs are like hundreds more than their counterparts even when they're otherwise the same TV)
That said...yeah going more than $50 of a gap is probably too much unless they're planning to sell the OLED for lower than the announced price as well.
@ModdedInkling the switch is underclocked a lot because of the battery
So much for KotoR. Happy the remake exist, ticked that is an exclusive, timed or otherwise. At least bring to PC at the same time.
Hopefully the other rumors are true and the Switch OLED is going to retail for $299 instead of $349. Some customers that have preordered their OLED models, here in the states, have been given $50 refunds from Walmart for no apparent reason. They were never even notified just credited the refund. Curious to say the least.
@UltimateBreak82
I wouldn't be surprised. The battery is to blame for hardware limitations in general, considering the Tegra X1 can do wonders. But, that still doesn't reflect on the games themselves.
Yeah, sure. I would love for Nintendo to give the Switch a price cut, but they're Nintendo. They won't, and they have no reason to, so why would they?
@ModdedInkling very few games on the PS3 and 360 ran at 60fps. I wish they ran at a locked 30, let alone double.
I highly doubt it.
Many people boasted the Switch Lite’s introduction would dock (no pun intended) the price by $50. 2 years had passed and it still hasn’t budged.
Just out of curiosity, when claim states a price cut in France and their is no information for other countries. Shouldn’t the Title be:
Rumour: Switch Will Reportedly Receive A Price Cut Ahead Of The OLED Model's Launch in France???
😝
@ObeseChihuahua2 Looking at the history, when they don’t sale well?
Well, to paraphrase a Simpsons line, "if you can't trust a 80k follower Reportedly Reputable twitter account with Nintendo news, who CAN you trust?"
I work in procurement with one of the world’s largest corporations and quite simply, I will believe it when I see it. There are material shortages (which in English means price increases) in pretty much every sector right now and the cost of shipping goods has increased around 8fold in the last six months alone.
The only reason I could see anyone making such a move in today’s market conditions is to move unwanted stock. And the Switch is still selling like hot cakes regardless so mark this one down as a bogus from me.
If the V2 model really got a £50 price cut then I, and I imagine many others, will cancel their OLED preorder and just get a V2. Not worth paying an extra £100 for OLED and a better stand.
@Heavyarms55 😆
@Scrubicius Yeah, but this is the Switch. It'll sell well.
@tangeraniumm
Nah, I don't think its a hard sell at 50USD more. A bigger, better screen is a pretty highly requested feature in a handheld system. At 50USD you could anyway not expect higher performance. And you do get twice the storage as well.
They should lower the price for the oled as well. Its not worth the price tag.
300€ should be the max. And 250 for the standard model.
Wow. The fact the Switch has gone so long without a price drop is crazy!
Yeah, I don't think this is true. I think they will first start packing in games with the system. (Or buy Switch get one game free, etc) Also the OLED Switch is sold out almost everywhere already.
Also Nintendo rarely lowers the price of their hardware.
But we'll see in 8 days if this is another Nintendolife-rumor that's untrue. At least you disclosed your source for this one.
Nintendo doesn’t set the price of the console in Europe
Why would you purposely make the value proposition of your new model seem even worse than already perceived?
I call BS.
Crazy how the Switch may be getting its first price reduction 4.5 years after launch.
At this point in the Wii U's lifespan, it had already been discontinued and the Switch had already been released.
I think most of the people now considering a Switch aren't buying their first Switch...so the price does matter when it is not an urgent purchase.
299? something like that...
@Vexx234 Well, the OLED screen is the whole point of this upgrade, that's why it's called that and not the "Super Switch" or something similar.
Makes sense to me. There is so little difference between the models, why would Nintendo keep both going? Will clear out old stock.
Still predict next model next year, with Splatoon 3 for launch.
Seems sensible to me. Entry price Switch and premium Switch. Both will have their target markets.
Lots of doubt in this thread, so I'm going to assume this is 100% going to happen now because you lot are terrible at calling these things.
The switch OLED which is already the most pointless upgrade I've seen the last 25 years will then become even more of a rip off aswell
And everyone thought sony was greedy, with this OLED and charging full price for ports I'd say Nintendo have been the greediest of the bunch these last two gens
@ObeseChihuahua2 So maybe won't happen, well official from Nintendo.
Well unless they want to empty and phase it out from their supply line!???
I believe it's the Switch Lite that needs a price cut.
@Paulo no kidding but a drop in the v2 Switch would make it a good buy. Even I would get that one again and give my other to my nephew and niece. I be looking at v2 @250usd at least.
@Scrubicius Maybe, but I doubt it. I could be wrong though. We'll just have to wait and see.
@kupocake Yeah, this site is terrible at predicting things.
Not sure if true but I’m skeptical. Nintendo always stingy with price reductions.
I think the only discount OG Switch sees is on refurbished models. Why would they not wait until closer to Black Friday?
@Supadav03 Maybe because they want people to buy more games on Black Friday rather than the console itself?
I really doubt this will happen and here is why.......the Switch is still selling like mad and their are chip shortages throughout the world and all industries. So why make a price drop under those circumstances?
Also......I guess its possible that the OLED and LCD Switches could stay around for a while as it would give Nintendo two different screens to use which might help with keeping stock on the shelves, but it doesn't seem likely. My guess is once the current in the distribution chain Switch LCD models dry up then we will only see the OLED models.
In typical Nintendo fashion I think it is more likely they use remaining Switch LCD models to create holiday bundles. So standard model stays $299 but you get a game bundled while the OLED model sticks at $349 with no software bundled.
Time will tell but to all those saying $50 isn't worth it.....well that depends.....if you handheld game a lot and want something bright enough to play in the sun, then yeah $50 more for OLED is well worth it. Lets not forget you get that great LAN port on the dock (USB adapter is what $20) and you get 64GB NAND instead of 32GB.....$50 is not that much to pay, although I think after the LCD models are gone the OLED goes to $299
The battery is going on my 2017 Switch and it's scratched up good now. I'm playing a lot of handheld at the moment and I think the white OLED Switch looks awesome so I'm going for it. Probably wouldn't have gone for it otherwise.
Price drop makes sense to me.
The only way this make sense is if the OLED model comes out at the same price as the current switch. Otherwise, it's going to sell horribly.
I think this just isn't going to happen, at least not for a while.
@Kevember Nintendo's games hold their value, why shouldn't their console?
@QuickSilver88 if u play mostly handheld, the Ethernet port is useless.
Ooooh, a switch rumor, it MUST be true! And one that doesn't even make sense!
Switch Pro when?
Removed - unconstructive
This would be a sale thing by it a permanent price cut.
@nessisonett
No its the, Grand grandfather of a neighbors uncles nephew who had a friend who heard from his grandfathers sister neighbor who also had a friend in another country who whas told by a friend who heard a Rumor that their whas a rumor about a price cut.
@UltimateOtaku91 top of the list next to rockstar! Imo
Nintendo rumors have been more miss than hit this year. I'll believe this when it actually happens. Nintendo is too cheap and greedy to discount a top-selling item when it's still breaking sales records.
What a completely unsurprising turn of events!
So the real question if rumours are true is: Does OLED screen upgrade worth 100$ ? I can't answer that seems a little too much
I still don’t own a Switch because it’s current RRP is not worth it to me. More so since hearing all the stories about the lack of durability in those joycons. So I’ve been waiting over 4 years for a price cut! And I’ll happily wait 4 years more if I have to. They have to reduce the price at some point 😀
If they make such a price cut who will buy the OLED version?
@dimi of course not!! most of the people don't even use the Switch in handheld mode anyway, they have no reason to buy this expensive model!
I wish people (and game journalists) would stop with the rumors.
Is this a French joke?
@ModdedInkling
Very few games on 360 and PS3 ran at a smooth 30FPS consistently, much less 60FPS. Some developers were better than others and got a locked 30, but for the most part game framerates in those days hovered between 23 and 30fps on graphically advanced titles.
There were some 60fps games in those days; for the all the flak COD has always gotten they always ran at a mostly locked 60 in multiplayer. Single player was typically locked at 30fps. And a lot of indie titles ran at a locked 60, but they weren’t taxing the hardware. 30fps was the goal for the generation but not all that many games were able to lock to 30.
As for PS4 and XBONE, there were more 60fps AAA games available than in the previous Gen but it was never stable at that target. Most developers chose to go for 30fps because the systems were capable of locking to 30. Realistically, that was the first console generation where games usually had smooth locked frame rates. But 60 was out of reach for most developers who prioritized resolution and graphical quality over framerate.
The PS5 and Series X seem like they’re targeting opposite goals. Developers now are targeting higher performance in exchange for a smaller jump in graphical quality or resolution. Which is honestly the way it should be. I’ll take 1080p or 1440p/60 over 4K/30 any day. Which is why my PS5 is set to default to performance mode over resolution mode (Sony included a nice option in the settings menu that allows for this).
French Fry news?
https://nintendosoup.com/rumor-switch-reportedly-receiving-a-price-cut-in-france-next-week/
As a French reader, I can tell that the resellers asking for 330€ are seen as expensive (like Micromania aka Gamestop France), the price asked by 90% of sellers in France is 299€, however, we have seen some discounts happening from times to times.
In the last few weeks, I have seen a few offers at 269€ (I often check Dealabs for that) so that would make perfect sense that this price would eventually become the new regular price.
A price cut is coming but with a bundle.
The red box NS will be phased out and the Oled will take its place. A Switch Lite price drop will happen following Arceus release.
As about the only person on the planet that constantly trashed the idea of a Switch Pro and said that any new model would be a replacement with likely a nicer screen, more storage, longer battery life and better kickstand and that it would retail at the same price as the current Switch while that one is discounted to clear stock, I'd say this rumour is true!
Remember where you heard it first, second, third, fourth and the fifth time. 😛
I feel like this Nintendo's reaction to the Steam Deck's price for the base model.
Prior to this, I felt that Nintendo was taking advantage of the consumer by increasing the price. It seemed greedy because they knew it would sell even with the price hike
@Steel76
Um....wouldn't that just be a Switch???
@JHDK how is the oled model a fake pro?I mean Nintendo never once said they was making a pro.lol..so according to you it's a fake pro based on fake rumors and fake leaks.i see now d@mn Nintendo for not making the fake leaks and fake rumors true..lol such a joke
Will be interesting to see if this is just in France or a more global move.
Sales of the Switch will definitely start trending downwards YOY now, so maybe Nintendo is trying to ease the trend with a price drop.
It could be though that the OLED model will slowly phase out the regular model, so this is a move to start removing the regular model's inventory and replace it with OLED.
Seems like a bad idea.
@CharlieGirl I agree. Things have really cooled off.
If this is true, starting to see Nintendo take the iPad route with the Switch family:
Switch Lite (iPad mini), Switch (iPad) and Switch OLED (iPad Air).
Interesting development in Germany. One of the store chains (I believe it's Aldi?) there is selling Switch units (didn't check for a date when they start selling), with a really big sign on it saying "price to be determined".
Interesting indeed...
The price cut will disappoint people wanting to get rid of their original to upgrade to OLED. They'll get even less on a part exchange or selling it.
Thanks for the update.
Makes sense. It will go end of life and the newer model will replace it.
@Enigk that’s probably the reason they’re doing this indeed. So more people intend to buy a new one instead of one on the 2nd hand market when the OLED releases
Good thinking
@NintendoByNature it is rumoured that word on the streets suggests more speculation is on its way for within the next couple of days. I'm so hyped. I'm really looking forward to be disappointed because of high expectations.
What's that? Actually play games and enjoy them? Where's the fun in that?
So it sounds like the Switch is getting an official European price reduction from €330 to €300, with one particular retailer dropping the price even further to €250 as a deal.
@Shambo lol precisely
If past handheld generations indicate anything from Nintendo, generally after iterations 3 we see the next full generation of console. E3 2022 we will see the unveil of Switch 2 with a 2023 Holiday release, full backward compatability as well.
The standard price for the Nintendo Switch here in France so far has been 299€. I bought mine at 292€ at Leclerc last year. If the Switch was sold at a higher price (like on Micromania), that had to come with an extended warranty.
Anyway, the Switch is available at 270€ both at Amazon and Auchan now:
https://www.amazon.fr/Nintendo-Switch-avec-paire-Rouge/dp/B07WKNQ8JT/
https://www.auchan.fr/nintendo-console-nintendo-switch-joy-con-bleu-et-rouge/p-c1140321
Also 271€ at Cultura:
https://www.cultura.com/nintendo-switch-joycon-neon-b-0045496452629.html
£259.99 at Argos as from today
Dang it, gonna sell my switch for a oled one, but gotta go lower than €250 then to get the sale
drop the price of everything to the price of the switch lite and the world would go crazy.
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