UPDATE: |Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are live – but you might not need to upgrade News

If you’re on the fence about the Nintendo Switch 2, it could be worth holding off on buying one for one major reason

Our first look at the Nintendo Switch 2 happened on Wednesday with the Japanese game maker revealing all about what the new console is capable of, plus the new games we can expect to play on it. With a much larger screen and several other upgrades, it’s a compelling buy for the most dedicated gamers out there.

However, despite all the excitement, there are a couple of worthwhile reasons to stick with your current Switch. The main barrier to entry for a lot of folks will be price point, and not just of the console itself.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is priced at £395.99 for the console alone, which is a good £116 more expensive than the original model cost when it launched in 2017. Adjusting for inflation, the Switch 2’s price point works out to around £30 more expensive in real terms, but it’s still a big sum for anyone to fork out for at the moment – especially during a cost of living crisis.

The costs sadly don’t stop there, either. If you want to pick up brand new first-party games for your shiny new console, Nintendo has started to charge £74.99 for a physical copy of Mario Kart World, with Donkey Kong Bananza not far behind at £66.99.

Tot all of these costs up and you’re very quickly spending over £500 on keeping up with the latest and greatest Nintendo has to offer. Yes, the Switch 2 is capable of a great deal more than its predecessor, but depending on the sort of gamer you are, you might get away without upgrading for a while longer.

For those that are quite happy playing indie titles or older games that released in the last few years, you can currently pick up a standard Nintendo Switch for £237.47 at Amazon. For almost half the price of the new console, you’re still getting a portable gaming gadget that can play a huge library of games such as Stardew Valley, Minecraft, and even Hogwarts Legacy.

For those that feel like they’re missing out on the Switch 2’s larger screen, the OLED model is almost as cheap for a worthwhile upgrade. Currently £254.08 at Amazon, it’s a worthwhile pickup if you’re not bothered about staying up to date with the latest and greatest Nintendo hardware.

To really pinch pennies, you could even opt for a refurbished Nintendo Switch model. Sites like BackMarket and Music Magpie are selling these for as low as £131 with the models functioning just as they would brand new, only with minor cosmetic wear and tear.

In terms of what you’re missing out on by not purchasing a Nintendo Switch 2 immediately, it’s mostly new games that are exclusive to the platform. Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza are the main two that you’ll need to consider missing out on, but the likes of Metroid Prime 4 will still be coming to the original Switch console anyway, albeit at a lower frame rate and resolution.

Of course, the new Switch will make games look much prettier in both handheld and docked mode, but that’s only if games receive a patch to make them run better. Additionally, those Switch 2 upgrades will cost you a little extra on top of the game you’ve already purchased, which is yet more money to invest in the already expensive hobby.

While Nintendo does seem to be sticking by its pricing strategy on both its console and upcoming games, there’s every chance that Nintendo could make a U-turn and reduce their price shortly after launch. We saw this happen with the launch of the 3DS in 2011 with Nintendo cutting a third off the price six months after launch following disappointing sales.

That’s not looking likely this time around though with pre-orders for the Switch 2 already selling out like hotcakes wherever new retailer listings pop up. So far, Argos, Very, Amazon and EE have all started taking pre-orders for the new console with each showing limited stock within a few hours each time.

For now though, there’s a compelling reason to stick with an original Nintendo Switch for a little while longer. It’s looking like developers are still set to support if for a few years longer yet, and there’s every chance the price of entry to the Nintendo Switch 2 might have dropped by the time you’re finally ready to upgrade.

If you’re dead set on purchasing a Nintendo Switch 2, here are the links you need to be looking out for:

Amazon – Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 here.Argos – Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 here.Currys – Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 here.GAME – Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 here.John Lewis – Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 here.Very – Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 here.Smyths Toys – Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 here.