As a Nintendo gift for Christmas 2026, the Nintendo Switch 2 is now priced at €499.99 in the eurozone following the price rise on 1 September, while the Nintendo Switch launched in 2017 is being discontinued in Europe. Whether you give the console itself or just a game makes a huge difference to the budget you put on your Christmas list.
Switch or Switch 2: what the September 2026 price rise means for your budget
The European reference price of the Nintendo Switch 2 went up by €30 on 1 September 2026. In-store discounts are now calculated from this new price, not the launch one: according to 20 Minutes, the console was listed at €459 by a major online retailer on 11 October 2026, around 8% below the official price. As for the original Nintendo Switch, the attractive prices reflect stock clearance in Europe, not a long-term deal.
| Model | Reference price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 | €499.99 since 1 September 2026 | A gift shared between several people |
| Nintendo Switch (2017) | Varies, being discontinued in Europe | A family keen to grab the last stock |
| A single game | Varies depending on the title | A household that already owns a console |
Should you wait for a Switch 2 with a replaceable battery?
No, it's already here. From autumn 2026, Nintendo is rolling out Nintendo Switch 2 consoles and Joy-Con 2 controllers in Europe with user-replaceable batteries, ahead of EU Regulation 2023/1542 on batteries, which comes into force from 18 February 2027. One thing worth knowing before you buy: this new battery has a slightly lower capacity than the previous model. Nothing that should delay a December purchase, though.
Three Nintendo games that hold up well under the tree
A game remains the simplest gift to give when the console is already owned. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold over 71 million copies according to Nintendo's 2026 results, and its local multiplayer makes it a safe bet for holiday afternoons. The Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 compilation, released on 2 October 2025 for Switch and Switch 2 at €69.99, is riding the wave of the Super Mario Galaxy film released in April 2026. Finally, the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, is set to launch on 5 November 2026: producer Eiji Aonuma unveiled it during the Nintendo Direct on 8 September 2026, featuring a free camera and French dubbing. Prices recorded by 20 Minutes on 11 October 2026 put the first two titles at €43.99 and €51.49 respectively, figures that can shift from week to week.
Adding a console to your Christmas list without duplicates
A console priced in the hundreds rarely gets funded by one person alone. On your children's Christmas list, state the exact model and offer it as a shared gift: grandparents, godparents and others can all chip in on the same item. With games, the risk runs the other way: two relatives buying the same title. The no-duplicates method is to tick off each item as soon as it's reserved, which a free Christmas list shared via a link makes easy. One last tip for early shoppers: the 14-day right of withdrawal runs out well before Christmas Eve if you order in October. Note down the model you want and its current price, then wait for November's figures before you commit.
Comments 0
No comments yet. Share your experience!
Leave a comment