BusinessThe Japanese video-game company behind the Super Mario and Pokemon franchises announced it's raising prices on the Nintendo Switch 2, citing challenging business conditions.Price will jump to $679.99 in Canada as of Sept. 1, company saysThomson Reuters · Posted: May 08, 2026 12:01 PM EDT | Last Updated: May 8Listen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Nintendo Switch 2 gaming devices are seen at an electronics store in Tokyo, Japan, on June 5, 2025. (Issei Kato/Reuters)Hold on to your consoles — the Nintendo Switch 2 is about to get more expensive.The price for the Nintendo Switch 2 in Canada will increase as of Sept. 1, Nintendo said in a news release Friday, jumping to $679.99 Cdn from its current price of $629.99.Nintendo said it was raising the Switch 2 price in Japan to 59,980 yen, effective May 25, from 49,980 yen, "in light of changes in market conditions and after considering the global business outlook." Company president Shuntaro Furukawa said higher component costs, along with factors including exchange rates, were reflected in Nintendo's decision.Why a memory chip shortage is wreaking havoc on the consumer electronics industryThis ain't your parents' Game Boy: New gaming handhelds are powerful, pricey — and far from pocket-sizedAll major Japanese exporters are having to cope with U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes and other higher costs that have been worsened by the war in Iran. Nintendo and Sony are also both grappling with the impact of ​surging memory chip prices, Reuters reports, as the artificial intelligence boom constrains chip supply and deepens disruptions across the tech sector.Memory ‌chip prices doubled in the first quarter alone from the previous quarter and are forecast to climb up to 63 per cent in the current quarter due to AI data centre demand that has impacted supply for smartphones, laptops and automobiles. WATCH | AI boom is causing a memory chip shortage:The AI boom is causing a worldwide memory chip shortageFebruary 25|Duration 2:03The artificial intelligence boom is driving a worldwide shortage in memory chips that could soon drive up prices in everything from smartphones to laptops to video game consoles.