Samsung’s reported decision to raise foundry prices could create another cost concern for Nintendo and the Nintendo Switch 2. According to Reuters, Samsung has increased prices for some contract chip manufacturing services by as much as 15% as surging demand for AI hardware tightens production capacity.
The price changes reportedly affect Samsung’s 4nm, 5nm, and 8nm manufacturing processes. The 8nm increase is particularly notable for Nintendo because analysis of the Switch 2’s processor has linked its Nvidia T239 system-on-chip to Samsung’s 8 nm process.
Why Samsung’s Price Increase Matters for Nintendo Switch 2
Reuters reported that Samsung’s older 8nm process became nearly 10% more expensive under the new pricing. The company has not publicly confirmed the reported price changes, but the increases were said to apply to new orders and reflect growing demand for semiconductor manufacturing capacity.
Samsung’s foundry business has reportedly benefited from the wider AI boom as companies look for alternatives to TSMC, whose advanced manufacturing capacity has been under increasing pressure. Reuters reported that Samsung’s 4nm production line in Pyeongtaek has been operating at full capacity since late 2025.
If Nintendo faces higher manufacturing costs for the Switch 2 processor, the additional expense could increase pressure on the company’s hardware margins. However, there is currently no evidence that Samsung’s reported price hike will directly lead to another Nintendo Switch 2 price increase.
Nintendo has also not commented on whether its manufacturing arrangements with Samsung have changed. The impact would likely depend on the terms of Nintendo’s existing chip supply agreements and whether future production orders are affected by the reported price changes.
For now, the Switch 2’s connection to Samsung’s 8nm manufacturing process makes the report worth watching, but any direct impact on the console’s retail price remains speculative.
