Nintendo delays Switch 2 pre-orders in the U.S. over Trump tariffs

Nintendo has postponed the pre-orders for Switch 2 in the United States due to tariffs introduced by the Trump administration.

Pre-orders for the $449 console were initially set to commence on April 9, 2025, but have now been pushed back until further notice.

“Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not launch on April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and changing market conditions,” stated Nintendo in a brief statementinitially reported by GameSpot journalist Tamoor Hussain. “Nintendo will announce a new timeline at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 remains unchanged.”

This news comes about forty-eight hours after Nintendo provided additional details about the console during a special Nintendo Direct focused on Switch 2, highlighting a device packed with new multiplayer and social features such as GameChat and GameShare along with improved internal components.

The major announcement occurred just before President Donald Trump introduced new tariffs on imports to the country—which means it will now cost more for companies to import goods into the U.S.

As reported by The BBC, the U.S. has imposed a 10 percent tariff as a baseline—however, some countries will face rates as high as 50 percent. Nintendo’s home nation, Japan, is facing a 24 percent tariff.

Nintendo hardware production sites affected by some of the largest U.S. tariffs

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The company had been attempting to relocate hardware production away from China to countries like Cambodia and Vietnam (thanks to Forbes).

The issue, however, is that Vietnam and Cambodia have also been hit with tariffs of 46 percent and 49 percent, respectively—two of the highest imposed by Trump’s administration.

It remains uncertain how Nintendo will navigate this setback. The key question is whether the company will absorb the costs or pass the expenses onto consumers.

The Switch 2’s suggested retail price of $449 has already sparked some sticker shock online, with gamers currently inundating a Nintendo Treehouse live broadcast with direct (and rather frank) requests for the company to “lower the price.”True site, NintendoLife.

The cost of first-party titles such as Mario Kart World has also raised eyebrows, with Nintendo revealing that the title will retail for $80 upon release—though it will be available in a Switch 2 launch hardware bundle that effectively reduces that price by $30.

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