Nintendo Postpones Switch 2 U.S. Pre-Orders Due to Tariff Uncertainty

Nintendo has made the surprising move to delay Switch 2 pre-orders in the U.S., citing the impact of Trump’s tariffs and shifting market dynamics.

Pre-orders were initially scheduled to begin in the U.S. on April 9. Nintendo has not provided a new start date but confirmed that the Switch 2’s June 5, 2025 release remains on track.

Nintendo shared the following statement with IGN:

Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not commence on April 9, 2025, as we evaluate the potential effects of tariffs and changing market conditions. Nintendo will announce updated timing later. The launch date of June 5, 2025 remains unchanged.

Nintendo clarified that the pre-order delay applies only to the U.S. In regions like the UK, pre-order plans remain unaffected.

Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 at $449.99, with a Mario Kart World bundle priced at $499.99. Mario Kart World alone carries a $79.99 price tag.

Nintendo Switch 2 includes the following:

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 Cable

Nintendo’s statement today suggests it may raise the Switch 2’s price and its games further, amid growing criticism of its next-gen pricing approach.

In a YouTube video, former Nintendo of America PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang expressed concerns about Nintendo’s handling of the $449.99 Switch 2 price reveal and the $79.99 Mario Kart World price during this week’s Nintendo Direct.

“This feels like a critical moment for Nintendo, though I don’t want to overstate it,” 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 goods.

Just before U.S. markets opened, Trump commented, “China miscalculated and panicked,” insisting his policies would remain firm.

Global economic uncertainty now looms, with some major news outlets proclaiming the end of affordable goods for U.S. consumers, as higher tariffs drive inflation and elevate prices.

Tariffs are taxes imposed on imported goods. While supply chain companies could absorb these costs, they typically pass them onto consumers. For gamers, this likely means higher prices for tech and gaming products.

Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad noted that Trump’s unexpected tariffs on countries like Vietnam, where Nintendo moved some Switch 2 production to mitigate U.S. tariffs on China, may have prompted a strategic reassessment.

“Despite shifting some manufacturing to Vietnam to counter U.S. tariffs on China, the threat of reciprocal tariffs before the Switch 2 reveal likely forced Nintendo to consider higher global pricing,” Ahmad explained. “The tariffs on Vietnam and Japan exceeded expectations, and Nintendo will face challenges if these take full effect.”

For more, check out everything revealed at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, and expert insights on the Switch 2 price and Mario Kart World’s $80 price.

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