Nintendo has issued an official price cut to the base model Switch. This comes in preparation for the improved OLED model’s release next month.
The permanent price reduction is now active across Europe, with Nintendo changing the price of the console on their UK and EU stores. Down from £279.99/€329.99, the system can now be purchased for £259.99/€299.99.
Due to Nintendo not setting an RRP for the Switch in Europe, gamers in this region may see further drops, however, there is no certainty of this. There has so far been no confirmation of a similar price cut coming to the US.
Retailers Amazon UK, Amazon France, Very and Argos have also adjusted their prices to reflect the change.
This drop in price comes less than a month before the Switch OLED releases on 8 October. Costing £309.99/€364.99/$349.99, the upgrade to the base model boasts a seven-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable kickstand, enhanced audio quality and an improved 64GB of internal storage which can be added to by using a MicroSD. It also comes with a new Switch dock, equipped with a wired LAN port to cater for all your online gaming needs.
Since its launch in March 2017, the Nintendo Switch has sold over 89.04 million units. Only the Wii, which sold 101.63 million units, stands in the way of it becoming Nintendo’s best-selling home console of all time.
With Nintendo Switch Lite (still £199.99/€219.99) sales declining, now was a critical time for Nintendo to introduce a price cut to their flagship system. Despite year-on-year sales for the original Switch console increasing, sales for the entire Switch collective of systems have fallen by 21.7%.
This drop in sales is likely owing to Nintendo fans being deterred by the limitations of the Switch Lite and the sheer number of people biding their time for the Switch OLED’s release. Gamers who previously couldn’t afford a base model Switch, but didn’t want to compromise on dock compatibility, will be quick to capitalise on this permanent price cut.
Nintendo will be hoping that the reduced cost of the base model and the impending release of the Switch OLED is the catalyst needed to end their 2021 on a financial high.
Words by Julius Lawless-Master
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