When to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 for less: price and timing in 2026

Since 1 September 2026, the official European price of the Nintendo Switch 2 has risen from €469.99 to €499.99, as announced by Nintendo on 8 May 2026. To pay less, the most promising times are usually Black Friday (27 November 2026), when deals often focus on bundles, and one-off price drops at retailers. As for the original Switch, Nintendo will stop selling it in Europe in mid-February 2027.

This guide covers the price timeline, console-only versus bundle, the future of the first Switch and when to buy games.

How much does the Nintendo Switch 2 cost in Europe?

The Switch 2 launched on 5 June 2025. Here are the key dates to know before buying:

Date	What changes
5 June 2025	Switch 2 launch, console only at €469.99 in Europe.
8 May 2026	Nintendo announces Switch 2 price revisions in several regions, citing changing market conditions.
1 September 2026	The European price of the Switch 2 (console only) rises to €499.99.
Autumn 2026	Nintendo plans a revised version with a user-replaceable battery, with no difference in functionality.
Mid-February 2027	End of sales of the Switch family (Switch, Lite, OLED) to retailers and on Nintendo Store in Europe.

These are reference prices. Each retailer sets its own price, and bundles with a game are priced separately. If you're in the UK or outside the eurozone, check local pricing.

The September increase changes how to read deals

A Switch 2 shown "on sale" at €469.99 with €499.99 crossed out is simply back at the old official price. It's not necessarily a bad deal, but it isn't an exceptional discount either. Worth knowing: across the EU, the reference price for a discount must be the lowest price the seller charged in the previous 30 days (see the 30-day rule).

Console only or a bundle with a game?

Nintendo and retailers sell the Switch 2 on its own or as a bundle with a game: a Mario Kart World bundle at launch, then others depending on the period and the store. A bundle only makes sense if you actually want the included game.

Do the maths: bundle price versus console-only price + the game bought separately, at the same retailer on the same day. Hypothetical example: if a bundle costs €40 more than the console alone and the game sells for €60 on its own, the bundle saves you €20. If you don't care about the game, those €40 are wasted.

Be wary of exclusive bundles too (with an accessory, subscription or memory card thrown in): they make it hard to compare stores, and the "free" extra isn't always worth what's claimed.

Should you still buy an original Switch, Lite or OLED?

Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED will still be manufactured in 2026, but from mid-February 2027 it will no longer sell them to retailers or on Nintendo Store in the territories where Nintendo of Europe operates, including the UK. The reason: changes to EU battery regulations. Consoles already sold are not affected.

• Pros: a lower entry price and a huge game library, ideal for a child or casual play.
• Cons: Switch 2 exclusives won't run on it, and the console is at the end of its life.

What it means: some retailers might clear stock before sales end, but that's not guaranteed, and stock could simply dwindle. On the other hand, the Switch 2 can play most Switch games (Nintendo lists a few exceptions on its website), so if you're unsure, it keeps your library open for years to come.

Black Friday and Christmas: does the Switch 2 really get cheaper?

Nintendo rarely cuts the official price of its consoles. Good deals generally come from retailers, in a few forms:

• a console + game bundle priced below its two parts bought separately;
• a discount paid as store credit or a voucher, only worth something if you shop there again;
• a genuine one-off price cut, sometimes time-limited or while stocks last.

Black Friday falls on Friday 27 November 2026, followed by Cyber Monday on 30 November. Consoles are among the most promoted products, and stock can get tight as the holidays approach. If it's a gift, start noting the price in October: a price history recorded by UniverTrack then shows at a glance whether the day's offer is really lower. See our Black Friday 2026 guide and our tips for cheaper Christmas gifts.

Month-by-month: when to buy a Switch

Qualitative patterns, to be checked against the real price of the console or bundle you want:

Period	Rating	Why
January	Average	French winter sales (6 January – 2 February 2027): some offers, often on bundles or games.
February – April	Average	Quiet period; last weeks of original Switch sales before mid-February 2027.
May – June	Average	Spring French Days in France and one-off retailer promotions.
July – August	Average	Summer sales, mostly on games.
September – October	Prepare	New price in place: the right time to note reference prices.
November	Good	Black Friday and Cyber Monday, deals to check one by one.
December	Average	Strong pre-Christmas demand, some bundles may sell out.

When are Switch 2 games cheapest?

Games made by Nintendo generally hold their price for a long time and go on sale less often than other publishers' titles. A few pointers:

• Nintendo games: discounts do happen but are usually rarer; comparing boxed copies across retailers often works better than waiting for a big sale.
• Third-party games: prices often fall faster after launch, and Nintendo eShop sales are regular.
• Physical or digital: a boxed copy can be cheaper at a retailer than on the eShop. Note that some boxes contain a game-key card: it holds no game data and acts as a key to download the game over the internet.

Weighing up consoles? Our guide on when to buy a PS5 follows the same logic.

Put it into practice: track your Switch's price

Watching a console, a bundle and a couple of games by hand means opening several pages every day, comparing different bundles and risking missing a deal that lasts a few hours, or falling for a misleading crossed-out price. UniverTrack automates the watching:

1. Paste the link to the Switch 2, bundle or game you want (Amazon, Cdiscount or another retailer site): the price is checked regularly and a dated history builds up.
2. Set a target price for each product, for example the price at which the bundle becomes worth it for you.
3. Get an email alert as soon as the price reaches it, then buy. See how to set a price drop alert.

For a console plus several games ahead of Black Friday, the Malin plan fits best: up to 50 products and fake-discount detection. For a single purchase, Découverte is enough. Compare plans on the pricing page; all of them start with a 14-day free trial, no commitment.