REDMOND, Wash. — If you have been waiting for the perfect moment to upgrade to Nintendo's newest hardware, your patience has finally paid off.

Just weeks before the highly anticipated release of the The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake on November 5, the Nintendo Switch 2 has officially dropped to its lowest price ever. The sudden discount arrives as a welcome surprise for consumers, especially considering Nintendo just implemented a massive, industry-wide price hike on the console less than a month ago.

With Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days rapidly approaching in October, retailers are already slashing prices, making this the best time to secure a Switch 2 ahead of the holiday rush.

Bucking the Price Hike Trend

The gaming hardware market has been brutal for consumers this September. Driven by global memory chip shortages, Nintendo raised the standard MSRP of the Switch 2 in the United States from $449.99 to $499.99 on September 1. A similar price hike hit the UK, pushing the console beyond the £400 threshold to £419.99.

However, early promotional deals are temporarily reversing that trend:

  • In the UK: Retailers like Amazon, Smyths, and Argos have slashed the Switch 2 down to £354.99. This massive 15% discount saves buyers £65 off the new MSRP and brings the console £40 below its original launch price.
  • In the US: While brand-new stock remains rigidly at the $499.99 mark, massive savings can be found in the refurbished market. Retailer Woot! is currently offering Grade A Refurbished Switch 2 consoles for just $409 (an 18% savings) for new customers.

Preparing for the Hero of Time

The timing of these discounts is no coincidence. Retailers are actively trying to push hardware before the arrival of Nintendo's biggest system-seller of the year.

The full, ground-up remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches globally on November 5. Demand for anything related to the iconic franchise is currently skyrocketing. Earlier this month, pre-orders for the limited Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 console completely sold out within hours, with scalpers already reselling the highly coveted $519.99 hardware for upwards of $800 online.

For players who simply want to experience the new Zelda adventure without paying exorbitant aftermarket prices, the current discounts on the standard Switch 2 offer the most affordable entry point into Nintendo's next-generation ecosystem.

If you don't own a Switch 2 yet, this is likely the lowest price the standard hardware will hit before the holiday shopping season officially kicks into high gear.