Nintendo says $449.99 price tag for Switch 2 was not affected by US tariffs

Nintendo has clarified that the US tariffs, which were implemented on the same day as the Switch 2 event last week, were “not incorporated” into the $449.99 price point.

In a conversation with The Verge, Doug Bowser, president of Nintendo of America, stated that the company is “actively evaluating what the potential effects might be.”

Due to the tariffs, Nintendo has postponed US pre-orders for the console from its original date of April 9, 2025. The launch date for the Switch 2 (June 5) remains unchanged.

Regarding the $449.99 pricing of the Switch 2, Bowser emphasized the “durability” of the new console as a key factor.

“We want to ensure that this is a system that is accessible, that consumers will view as part of their overall entertainment experiences and will recognize its lasting appeal,” he explained. “All of these factors truly influence the pricing decision.”

Bowser noted the console’s innovative hardware, which includes a superior LCD display, that the Joy-Cons have been “enlarged and redesigned for enhanced durability,” as well as its custom Nvidia processor that supports ray tracing.

“You want to take into account the pricing in relation to the Switch since we still have that on the market. However, the focus was primarily driven by what is included in this particular experience rather than a comparison to the original Switch.”

Additionally, Bowser commented on the price point of Switch 2 games, stating that Nintendo’s philosophy is that each title is a “distinct experience” that can be priced according to its quality.

This is why Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a game crafted to familiarize players with the console, is a paid title instead of a complimentary offering.

“As this game was being created, it was filled with a variety of minigame experiences,” he stated. “They’re quite substantial, they’re easily repeatable. Thus, we assessed that depth of gameplay experience and the opportunities it provides.