Nintendo Stock Skyrockets: Here’s Why Gamers (and Investors) Are Winning

Mario isn't the only one jumping higher today.

Nintendo shares surged as rumors swirled about a next-gen console launch—because nothing pumps a stock like hype and nostalgia.

Wall Street analysts suddenly 'discovered' Nintendo's IP moat—only a decade late.

Bonus jab: Meanwhile, crypto bros are still waiting for their 'play-to-earn' revolution.

Image source: Getty Images.

What's changing at Nintendo

Nintendo clarified that Nintendo Switch 2 prices and prices for physical and digital Switch and Switch 2 games "will remain unchanged at this time," although the company gave no guarantee that prices won't change in the future in response to U.S. tariff policy on Japanese imports.

What may change are prices for:

• Nintendo Switch
• Nintendo Switch (OLED Model)
• Nintendo Switch Lite
• Select Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 accessories

Is this good or bad news for Nintendo?

When we compare current product prices to those from Monday of last week, the effect becomes clear. A Nintendo Switch Lite unit that cost $199.99 a week ago now costs $229.99 (up 15%). The OLED Model, which cost $349.99 last week, now costs $399.99 (up a bit more than 14%). The ordinary Nintendo Switch, which cost $299.99 last week, costs $339.99 today (up 13%).

All these price changes resemble the 15% tariff on Japanese imports announced by President TRUMP July 31 just a bit too closely for it to be a coincidence. It seems pretty clear that Nintendo is passing the cost of higher tariffs directly to consumers, preserving its profit margin in the process.

This might hurt sales a bit, but so long as profit margins remain intact, investors seem happy today.