Nintendo has postponed the start of pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the U.S., citing concerns over the effects of Trump's tariffs and shifting market dynamics.
Pre-orders were originally scheduled to begin in the U.S. on April 9. Although Nintendo did not provide a new date, the company confirmed that the Switch 2's June 5, 2025 release date will not be affected.
Nintendo provided IGN with the following statement:
Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Nintendo will update timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged.
The delay applies only to the U.S. In markets such as the UK, Nintendo's pre-order schedule remains the same.
The Switch 2 is priced at $449.99, with a Mario Kart World bundle available for $499.99. The standalone Mario Kart World game is priced at $79.99.
The Nintendo Switch 2 includes the following:
Nintendo Switch 2 console, Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R), Joy-Con 2 Grip, Joy-Con 2 Straps, Nintendo Switch 2 Dock, Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable, Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter, and a USB-C Charging Cable.
Nintendo’s latest announcement has led to speculation that it might increase the price of the Switch 2 and its games, even as the company faces criticism over its next-generation pricing approach.
Former Nintendo of America PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang shared their views in a YouTube video, criticizing Nintendo for how it revealed the $449.99 price for the Switch 2 and the $79.99 price for Mario Kart World following the most recent Nintendo Direct.
“I don’t want to blow things out of proportion, but this does feel like a true crisis moment for Nintendo,” Ellis said.
U.S. markets declined today following China’s response to Donald Trump’s latest tariff actions. With China facing a 54% import tax, it has announced an additional 34% tax on U.S. goods starting next week.
Just before U.S. markets opened, Trump stated, “China played it wrong, they panicked,” and reaffirmed that his policies would "never change."
This has heightened global economic uncertainty, with several major news outlets suggesting that the era of low-cost goods may be over for American consumers as higher tariffs contribute to inflation and increased prices.
Tariffs function as taxes on imported products. While companies in the supply chain may absorb these costs, in most cases these expenses are transferred to consumers. For gamers, this could mean higher prices for electronics and gaming products.
Daniel Ahmad, an analyst at Niko Partners, had cautioned that Trump’s unexpected tariffs on countries like Vietnam—where Nintendo relocated some Switch 2 manufacturing to avoid U.S. tariffs on China—might have prompted a reevaluation.
“Although Nintendo moved some production to Vietnam in response to U.S. tariffs on China, the risk of additional tariffs before the Switch 2 reveal likely forced the company to consider raising prices in other regions,” Ahmad noted. “Vietnam and Japan are now facing higher reciprocal tariffs than anticipated, and Nintendo will be significantly impacted if these measures are fully implemented.”
For further details, see everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, and what the experts have to say about the Switch 2 price and Mario Kart World’s $80 price tag.
