Nintendo has postponed the start of Switch 2 pre-orders in the U.S., citing the impact of new tariffs and shifting market dynamics.
Originally scheduled for April 9, pre-orders in the U.S. now lack a confirmed start date, though Nintendo assures the Switch 2’s June 5, 2025 launch remains on track.
Nintendo provided IGN with the following statement:
U.S. pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2, initially planned for April 9, 2025, are delayed as we evaluate the effects of tariffs and changing market conditions. We will share updated timing later. The June 5, 2025 launch date remains unaffected.
Nintendo clarified that this delay applies only to the U.S. Pre-order schedules in regions like the UK remain unchanged.
The Switch 2 is priced at $449.99, with a Mario Kart World bundle at $499.99. The standalone Mario Kart World game costs $79.99.
Nintendo Switch 2 Includes:
Nintendo Switch 2 consoleJoy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)Joy-Con 2 GripJoy-Con 2 StrapsNintendo Switch 2 DockUltra High-Speed HDMI CableNintendo Switch 2 AC AdapterUSB-C Charging CableToday’s statement from Nintendo hints at a potential price increase for the Switch 2 and its games, amid growing criticism of its next-generation pricing approach.
In a YouTube video, former Nintendo of America PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang expressed disapproval of how Nintendo announced the $449.99 Switch 2 price and the $79.99 Mario Kart World price during this week’s Nintendo Direct.
“This feels like a critical moment for Nintendo, and it’s not an overstatement to call it a crisis,” Ellis remarked.
U.S. markets fell sharply today after China responded to Trump’s tariffs with a 34% tax on U.S. goods, effective next week, in retaliation to a 54% U.S. import tax on Chinese products.
Just before U.S. markets opened, Trump commented, “China miscalculated and panicked,” while reaffirming his tariff policies would remain firm.
Global economic uncertainty has surged, with some media outlets declaring the end of affordable goods for U.S. consumers, as higher tariffs drive inflation and increase prices.
Tariffs act as taxes on imported goods. While supply chain companies could absorb these costs, they often pass them on to consumers, likely raising prices for tech and gaming products.
Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad noted that Trump’s unexpected tariffs on countries like Vietnam, where Nintendo had moved some Switch 2 production to avoid U.S. tariffs on China, likely prompted a strategic reassessment.
“Despite shifting some manufacturing to Vietnam to mitigate U.S. tariffs on China, the threat of reciprocal tariffs on Vietnam and Japan, which were higher than anticipated, may force Nintendo to raise prices globally,” Ahmad explained.
For more, check out everything revealed at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, and expert opinions on the Switch 2 price and Mario Kart World’s $80 price tag.
