Switch 2 Pre-Order Dates and Priority Set for U.S., Canada

Pre-orders for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 were scheduled to commence globally on April 9. However, due to economic turbulence caused by Trump's tariffs, Nintendo had to delay the pre-order start in the U.S., followed by Canada. Meanwhile, pre-orders proceeded as planned in other regions, such as the UK.

According to the FAQ on Nintendo's website, the first wave of invitations for pre-orders through the My Nintendo Store will begin on May 8, 2025. As of now, there's no information available regarding retail pre-orders. Nintendo has stated that additional batches of invitation emails will be sent out periodically until the purchasing option on the My Nintendo Store becomes available to all.

The initial invitations will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible registrants who meet specific priority criteria. Those who receive an invitation will have 72 hours from the time the email is sent to complete their purchase.

The criteria for receiving a priority invitation for the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order are as follows:

• You must have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
• You must have maintained a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 months.
• You must have opted in to share gameplay data and accumulated at least 50 hours of total gameplay.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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There's uncertainty surrounding whether Nintendo will maintain its previously announced pricing for the Nintendo Switch 2, its games, and accessories, or if there will be price increases. Some analysts have voiced concerns that the ongoing tariff war might force Nintendo to raise the price of the base Nintendo Switch 2 above $449.99, though no official announcement has been made yet.

It's noteworthy that Nintendo is offering a bundle of the Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World for $499.99, effectively reducing the game's cost by $30. However, this bundle is available for a limited time only.

Nintendo Switch 2 Pricing in the U.S.:

• Nintendo Switch 2 by itself: $449.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundled in: $499.99
• Mario Kart World by itself: $79.99
• Donkey Kong Bananza: $69.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: $79.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: $49.99
• Joy-Con 2 Controller pair: $89.99
• Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip: $34.99
• Joy-Con 2 Strap: $12.99
• Joy-Con 2 Wheel pair: $19.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set: $109.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector: $34.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case: $79.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter: $29.99

IGN has covered a wide range of reactions to Nintendo's decision to price Switch 2 games at $80, including insights from analysts explaining the rationale behind this move.

In related news, former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé has weighed in on the controversy over Nintendo's choice to charge for the Switch 2 tutorial game, Welcome Tour, drawing parallels to the Wii's pack-in game, Wii Sports, through subtle social media posts.