Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders in the US Delayed Due to Tariffs

Nintendo’s special Switch 2 edition of its Direct livestream series gave fans countless things to look forward to — from the return of GameCube classics to an exclusive FromSoftware title coming next year. Of course, the console itself was also fully previewed after being teased back in January.

Unfortunately, excitement was not the only emotion shared by fans, as Nintendo’s price point for the upcoming console provided a strong dose of sticker shock. A stateside retail price of $450 for the Nintendo Switch 2 sees a 50% markup compared to the 2017 release of the Nintendo Switch. When accounting for inflation, the actual markup is closer to 15%, however, it’s clear that many fans were not prepared for this price increase as the post-Direct Treehouse livestream comment section was flooded with “DROP THE PRICE” demands. It was initially theorized by some analysts that this unexpected price is in part due to tariffs, however, Nintendo has just shared a statement with IGN that states the following:

“Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the US 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.”

Other regional markets are said to be unaffected by pre-order delays while Nintendo assesses how to best handle the new tariffs that were announced on Wednesday. According to a report from Forbes, Nintendo has made a concerted effort in recent years to shift more Switch production away from China to Vietnam in fear of tariffs levied against China. However, Vietnam ended up receiving a new planned 46% tariff whereas China faces a new planned 34% tariff.

Could this lead to an even higher price point for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the US? Only time will tell as the world continues to process these unprecedented times. Stay tuned for updates as we await more details from Nintendo.