Nintendo Switch 2 draws criticism over high price, short battery life and sparse game lineup

One year after launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 is praised for its larger display, stronger hardware and magnetic Joy‑Cons, but reviewers highlight several drawbacks. The console launched at just under €500 in France and is expected to rise to €499 by September 2026, a price considered steep especially given the limited number of exclusive titles. Only a handful of new games have appeared, with most releases being ports or indie titles, leading many to question the value proposition.

Battery life has also declined, averaging four to five hours on the go and dropping to as little as two hours with demanding games, a notable regression from the original Switch’s endurance. Internal storage is capped at 256 GB and fills quickly, prompting users to purchase costly microSD Express cards. Combined with rising accessory prices in markets such as the United States, the overall cost of owning the Switch 2 can exceed the initial purchase price substantially.