Costco's Switch 2 Bundle Offers a Cushion Against Nintendo's Incoming $50 Price Hike

Nintendo of America will raise the U.S. suggested retail price of the Nintendo Switch 2 from $449.99 to $499.99 on September 1, 2026 (Nintendo). The $50 increase affects the standalone console, which launched earlier this year at $449.99 (Nintendo).

Costco is currently offering its members a bundle that effectively softens that blow. Listed on costco.com as item number 4000435562 under the title "Nintendo Switch 2 + NSO + Memory Card Bundle," the package includes the console, a 256GB microSD Express card, and a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack individual membership for $499.99 (Costco). Notably, that price matches what the standalone console alone will cost after September 1.

The arithmetic is straightforward. The 256GB microSD Express card included in the bundle retails for $59 on its own, and a one-year NSO Expansion Pack individual membership runs $49.99 (The Verge). Against the current $449.99 console MSRP, those add-ons carry $108.99 in standalone retail value. Against the post-hike $499.99 price, the bundle still delivers $108.99 of accessories and services for the same outlay as the bare console. Either way, the member comes out ahead of buying the components separately.

The Switch 2 ships with 256GB of internal storage, a portion of which is occupied by system software (Costco). Expansion relies on microSD Express cards, a newer standard distinct from the microSD and microSDXC cards used in the original Switch. The bundled 256GB card doubles the device's nominal storage ceiling, a meaningful addition given that game install sizes on the Switch 2 are substantially larger than on its predecessor.

The NSO Expansion Pack tier is Nintendo's higher subscription level, bundling online play, classic game libraries (including N64 and Game Boy Advance titles), and access to add-on content for select first-party games. The bundle includes an individual membership, not a family plan (Costco), so households with multiple Nintendo accounts would still need to evaluate whether an upgrade to a family membership is warranted.

Costco is also running two other Switch 2 configurations. A "Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle" pairs the console with the flagship racing title (Costco). Separately, a "Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories Bundle" includes the Switch 2 Pro Controller, Switch 2 Camera, and a Samsung-branded 256GB microSD Express card (Costco). Neither of those listings includes the NSO membership.

Nintendo itself is preparing a "Choose Your Game Bundle" for the Switch 2, priced at $499.99 and including a game download code alongside the console, with a launch window in summer 2026 (Nintendo). That places Nintendo's own first-party bundle at the same price point Costco is asking for its storage-and-subscription configuration, giving buyers a direct choice between a bundled game or a storage card plus a year of online service.

The timing of Costco's offer is worth flagging. With the September 1 price revision locked in, the standalone console price is about to rise by 11 percent. The Costco bundle, already at $499.99, will see its relative value proposition improve the moment that hike takes effect. Today, a buyer pays the same $499.99 and receives $108.99 in extras. After September 1, that same $499.99 buys the console alone at retail, making the bundle's included card and membership a pure bonus at no additional cost.

For the Switch 2 specifically, the storage and subscription additions address the two most common post-purchase spends: expanding beyond the internal 256GB and enabling online play plus the classic game catalog. Bundling them at the outset removes a step for buyers who would likely purchase both anyway.

Whether Costco's bundle represents a limited-time promotion or an ongoing SKU is not specified in the product listing. The item does carry a formal item number and a titled product page, which suggests it is treated as a standard catalog entry rather than a flash deal. Costco members have seen similar bundle configurations for prior console launches, though the specifics of pricing and included components vary by generation and retailer negotiation.

For buyers who were already planning to pick up a microSD Express card and an NSO membership alongside a Switch 2, the Costco bundle is, by the numbers, the most cost-effective path to that configuration. Once the September 1 price hike lands, the gap widens further.