A new rumor suggests that the Nintendo Switch will receive its first official price cut soon, allegedly bringing its price down to $250. The rumor is currently only linked to the base Nintendo Switch and isn't connected to the Nintendo Switch Lite or the upcoming Nintendo Switch (OLED Model).
The standard Nintendo Switch was released in 2017, and Nintendo has been slow to alter the handheld-home console hybrid's production line. The price of the base Switch hasn't changed since launch, even though some retailers have offered individual bundles and price cuts on their own accord. In terms of hardware revisions, there has only been one revision of the base model with longer battery life and the Nintendo Switch Lite, a portable-only version of the system with Joy-Cons that don't detach. The next hardware revision will be the Switch OLED model, which releases October 8. The Swtich OLED's new screen improves visuals in handheld mode, and the refresh also features an improved kickstand and dock. However, it won't offer any significant boosts to the base Switch's hardware.
It seems that a long-awaited price cut for the standard Nintendo Switch could be on the way. The Nintend'Alerts Twitter account claims that the Nintendo Switch's price will drop from €329 to €270, with Comic Book reporting that would translate to a price point of $250 in North America, down from the current retail price of $300. Nintend'Alerts has made accurate reports in the past, but any Nintendo Switch price cut should still be treated as a rumor for the time being. It also hasn't been confirmed if this price cut would be global or if the reduction would be uniform across regions.
The Nintendo Switch has been selling exceptionally well since its launch, and that's to say nothing of its software sales. The Nintendo Switch has almost outsold the Wii in 2021 and may be poised to pass that milestone by the year's end. The reason for a hypothetical price cut could be motivated by the Switch's current-gen competition, as the PlayStation 5 is outselling the Nintendo Switch in some regions and the Xbox Series X/S creeping up, as well. For now, it's still difficult for many to acquire those new consoles from retailers, so the price cut could be Nintendo's way of undercutting Microsoft and Sony going into the 2021 Holiday season.
Just recently, there were rumors of a Nintendo Direct planned for early September. It's plausible that a price cut could be revealed at a Nintendo Direct as soon as next week like the leak suggests, and the fresh passage of the PlayStation Showcase 2021 would make sense for the timing of Nintendo's own event. There's a good chance a Nintendo Direct could come before the month is over, and - if the price cut leak is legitimate - then an announcement during that event would make sense.
Source: Nintend'Alerts/Twitter (via Comic Book)