Nintendo has made the unprecedented decision to postpone pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the United States, citing concerns over the impact of Trump's tariffs and shifting market conditions.
Pre-orders were originally scheduled to begin in the U.S. on April 9. While Nintendo has not provided a new start date, the company confirmed that the official release date of June 5, 2025, for the Switch 2 remains unchanged.
Nintendo provided the following statement to IGN:
In light of possible tariff effects and changing market dynamics, pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not begin on April 9, 2025. Nintendo will announce updated timing later. The launch date of June 5, 2025, remains the same.
Nintendo has clarified that the pre-order delay applies only to the U.S. In the UK, for example, Nintendo's pre-order schedule is unaffected.
The Switch 2 was announced at $449.99, with a Mario Kart World bundle priced at $499.99. Mario Kart World alone is priced at $79.99.
The Nintendo Switch 2 includes the following items:
Nintendo Switch 2 console
Joy-Con 2 controllers (left and right)
Joy-Con 2 Grip
Joy-Con 2 Straps
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock
Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable
Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter
USB-C Charging Cable
Nintendo’s recent announcement raises the possibility that the company might further increase the price of the Switch 2 and its games, amid an already heated backlash over its next-generation pricing strategy.
In a video posted on their YouTube channel, former Nintendo of America PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang expressed criticism regarding how the $449.99 price tag for the Switch 2 and the $79.99 price for Mario Kart World were revealed during this week's Nintendo Direct.
"I don't want to exaggerate the situation, but this genuinely feels like a critical moment for Nintendo," Ellis said.
U.S. markets experienced a downturn today after China responded to Donald Trump’s series of tariffs. In retaliation for the 54% import tax it faces, China will impose an additional 34% tax on U.S. products starting next week.
Shortly before U.S. markets opened, Trump stated, "China made a mistake—they panicked," and maintained that his policy approach "will not change."
This has left the global economy facing uncertainty, with several mainstream media outlets declaring that the era of affordable goods is over for American consumers as increased tariffs fuel inflation and higher prices.
Tariffs are essentially import taxes applied to specific goods. Although companies in the supply chain could absorb these costs, in most cases the taxes are passed on to the consumer. Unfortunately for gamers, these rising costs are expected to affect the technology and gaming industries.
Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad had previously cautioned that Trump's unexpected tariffs on countries like Vietnam—where Nintendo relocated some Switch 2 production in anticipation of U.S. tariffs on China—could force a reevaluation.
"While Nintendo moved some of its manufacturing to Vietnam to mitigate U.S. tariffs on China, the possibility of reciprocal tariffs before the Switch 2 presentation may have pushed Nintendo to consider higher prices globally," Ahmad explained. "The reciprocal tariffs placed on Vietnam and Japan are higher than anticipated, and Nintendo will feel the financial impact if these tariffs are fully implemented."
For additional details, take a look at everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct and what industry experts are saying about the Switch 2 price and the $80 price tag for Mario Kart World.
