Back in March 2017, the gaming world was a mess. Nintendo was coming off the Wii U—basically a disaster by their standards—and everyone was skeptical. Then came the reveal. People weren't just curious about the "hybrid" gimmick; they were obsessed with the cost. The Nintendo Switch price on release was set at $299.99 in the United States.
It felt like a gamble. $300 for a tablet with detachable controllers? Some called it a steal. Others thought it was way too much for "underpowered" hardware. Honestly, looking back from 2026, it’s wild to see how that single price point redefined the entire industry.
The Global Price Tag: Not Everyone Paid $300
While the US had that clean $299.99 sticker price, the rest of the world saw a different story. Nintendo decided not to set a "suggested retail price" for Europe, leaving it to retailers. This led to a bit of a chaotic launch week.
In the UK, most shops landed on £279.99.
In Japan, it was ¥29,980.
The Eurozone saw prices around €329.99, though it fluctuated depending on which country you were standing in.
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You have to remember that 2017 was a different era for currency. The "Switch tax" wasn't just about game ports; it started with the hardware itself. If you were in Australia, you were plonking down AU$469.95. When you factor in the exchange rates of the time, some regions were definitely paying a premium for the privilege of playing Zelda on the bus.
The "Hidden" Costs Nobody Liked
The $300 entry fee was just the start. If you actually wanted to use the thing properly, you had to open your wallet again. Unlike the Wii, which came with Wii Sports, the Switch didn't include a pack-in game. If you wanted 1-2-Switch, that was another $50. Breath of the Wild? $60.
Then there were the accessories. These prices actually shocked people more than the console itself:
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- Pro Controller: $69.99 (more expensive than PS4 or Xbox controllers at the time).
- Extra Joy-Con Pair: $79.99.
- Joy-Con Charging Grip: $29.99.
- Official Dock Set: $89.99.
Basically, if you wanted a "complete" setup for two players with a Pro Controller, you were looking at nearly $450 before tax. People grumbled. A lot. But then they saw Link jump off that first cliff in the Great Plateau, and suddenly, the price didn't matter as much.
Why $299 Was a Masterstroke
Nintendo knew they couldn't hit $399. Sony and Microsoft had already staked out the high-end territory. By landing at $299, Nintendo positioned the Switch as a "secondary" console. It was cheap enough to be a gift but expensive enough to feel like a premium tech gadget.
Interestingly, if you adjust that Nintendo Switch price on release for inflation to today's 2026 dollars, it would be roughly $400.
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Think about that.
In 2017, $300 felt like a mid-range price. Today, the "value" of that $300 has shifted so much that the original launch price actually looks like a bargain compared to the $449.99 launch of the Switch 2 in 2025.
The Pricing Timeline
- March 2017: Original Switch launches at $299.99.
- September 2019: Switch Lite drops at $199.99.
- October 2021: OLED Model arrives at $349.99.
- August 2025: Nintendo actually raised the price of the original Switch in some markets to $339.99 due to supply chain shifts and tariffs—a rare move for an 8-year-old console.
The Reality of the "Cheap" Console
There’s a common myth that Nintendo consoles are always the "budget" option. That's not really true. The Switch was priced identically to the launch of the original Wii U Basic set. The difference was the value proposition.
The Switch gave you a handheld and a home console in one. To get that same experience from Sony in 2017, you would have needed a PS4 ($299) and a PS Vita ($199), plus a proprietary memory card. Suddenly, Nintendo’s $300 looked like a genius move.
What You Should Do Now
If you’re looking at the historical Nintendo Switch price on release to decide if you should buy one today, here is the expert take:
- Check the Used Market: Don't pay the "new" 2026 prices. With the Switch 2 out, original models are flooding second-hand sites. You can often find a V2 Switch (the one with the better battery) for under $150.
- Skip the Accessories: Third-party docks and controllers have matured. You don't need to pay the $90 "official" price for a dock anymore; reliable alternatives exist for $30.
- Consider the Lite: If you never plan to use the TV mode, the $199 (often $160 on sale) Lite remains the best "pure" handheld value in gaming history.
The 2017 launch wasn't just about a price tag; it was about Nintendo proving they still had the magic. They bet $300 that we wanted to take our games with us, and 150 million units later, it's clear they won that bet.