U.S. Switch 2 Pre-Orders Halted Over Tariffs

Nintendo has made the surprising move to postpone U.S. pre-orders for the Switch 2, citing the influence of Trump's tariffs and "changing market conditions."

Pre-orders were originally scheduled to begin in the United States on April 9. While Nintendo did not provide a new start date, it assured that the Switch 2's June 5, 2025 launch date is still on track.

Nintendo provided IGN with this statement:

In order to evaluate the possible effects of tariffs and shifting market conditions, Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the U.S. will not commence on April 9, 2025. Nintendo will announce updated timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 remains unchanged.

Nintendo has clarified that this pre-order delay only applies to the U.S. market. In regions like the UK, for example, the pre-order schedule is proceeding as planned.

Nintendo set the Switch 2 price 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:

Nintendo Switch 2 console
Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)
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

Today's statement from Nintendo suggests the company might further increase the price of the Switch 2 and its games, adding to the existing backlash over its next-generation pricing.

In a video on their YouTube channel, former Nintendo of America PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang criticized how Nintendo revealed 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 exaggerate, but this feels like a genuine crisis moment for Nintendo," Ellis commented.

U.S. financial markets declined today after China responded to Donald Trump's extensive new tariffs. Facing a 54% import tax, China has retaliated by announcing an additional 34% tax on U.S. goods starting next week.

Just before U.S. markets opened, Trump stated, "China played it wrong, they panicked," and affirmed that his policies would "never change."

The global economy now faces significant uncertainty. Some major news outlets have declared the era of inexpensive goods over for American consumers, as higher tariffs typically lead to increased inflation and retail prices.

Tariffs are essentially taxes imposed on imported goods. While companies in the supply chain can sometimes absorb these costs, they are usually passed on to consumers. Unfortunately for gamers, these rising costs are likely to affect technology and gaming products.

Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad had previously warned that Trump's unexpected tariffs on countries like Vietnam—where Nintendo moved some Switch 2 manufacturing to avoid U.S. tariffs on China—might have forced Nintendo to reconsider its strategy.

"While the company has shifted some manufacturing to Vietnam to mitigate U.S. tariffs on China, the imminent threat of reciprocal tariffs before the Switch 2 reveal likely pushed Nintendo to consider a higher global price," Ahmad explained. "The reciprocal tariffs on Vietnam and Japan exceeded expectations, and Nintendo will feel the impact if these tariffs are fully implemented."

For more details, read our coverage on everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct and expert opinions on the Switch 2 price and Mario Kart World's $80 price tag.

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