Nintendo has made the unprecedented move to postpone pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the U.S., citing the impact of Trump's tariffs and "evolving market conditions."
Pre-orders were scheduled to begin in the U.S. on April 9. While Nintendo has not provided a new start date, the company has confirmed that the Switch 2's June 5, 2025 release date remains unchanged.
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.
Nintendo has clarified that the pre-order delay is specific to the U.S. market. Pre-orders in other regions, such as the United Kingdom, remain on schedule.
The Nintendo Switch 2 was announced with a price of $449.99. A Mario Kart World bundle is priced at $499.99, while the standalone Mario Kart World game costs $79.99.
The Nintendo Switch 2 package includes the following items:
Nintendo Switch 2 console, Joy-Con 2 controllers (L and R), Joy-Con 2 Grip, Joy-Con 2 Straps, Nintendo Switch 2 Dock, an Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable, a Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter, and a USB-C Charging Cable.
Today's announcement raises the possibility that Nintendo could further increase the price of the Switch 2 and its games. This comes amidst an existing backlash against the company's next-generation pricing strategy.
In a video on their YouTube channel, former Nintendo of America PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang criticized how Nintendo unveiled the $449.99 price for the Switch 2 and the $79.99 price for Mario Kart World following this week's Nintendo Direct presentation.
"I don’t want to blow things out of proportion, but this does feel like a true crisis moment for Nintendo," Ellis stated.
U.S. financial markets declined today after China retaliated against Donald Trump's series of new tariffs. Facing a 54% import tax, China has announced it will impose an additional 34% tax on U.S. goods starting next week.
Just before U.S. markets opened, Trump commented, "China played it wrong, they panicked," and insisted that his trade policies would "never change."
The global economic landscape now faces significant uncertainty. Some mainstream media outlets are declaring the era of cheap goods over for American consumers, as higher tariffs are expected to contribute to inflation and increased retail prices.
Tariffs are essentially taxes imposed on imported goods. While companies in the supply chain can sometimes absorb these costs, they are typically passed on to consumers. Unfortunately for gamers, these rising costs are very likely to affect technology and gaming products.
Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad had previously warned that Trump's surprise tariffs on countries like Vietnam—where Nintendo relocated some of its Switch 2 manufacturing to avoid U.S. tariffs on China—might have prompted a strategic reassessment.
"While the company has shifted some of its manufacturing to Vietnam to offset U.S. tariffs on China, the looming threat of reciprocal tariffs prior to the Switch 2 showcase will have also forced Nintendo to consider a higher price for the rest of the world," Ahmad explained. "The reciprocal tariffs on Vietnam and Japan have come in higher than expected, and Nintendo will feel the impact of this if the tariffs go into full effect."
For more information, check out 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.
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