Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders Postponed in US to Evaluate Tariff Effects and Market Changes

Nintendo has recently announced that pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the United States have been postponed beyond the initial date of April 9. This decision comes as the company wants to gauge how a significant shift in economic policy might impact the market.

The announcement, shared with the press, states: “Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not kick off on April 9, 2025, to evaluate the potential effects of tariffs and changing market conditions. We’ll provide an update on timing at a later stage. However, the release date of June 5, 2025, remains unchanged.”

On April 2, President Donald Trump unveiled an expansive array of tariffs affecting numerous countries worldwide, including Japan and Vietnam. Although Nintendo is headquartered in Japan, its manufacturing takes place primarily in China and Vietnam. The latter became a focal point for the company as it shifted some production there, anticipating tariffs targeting Chinese imports. Vietnam now faces a hefty 46% tariff, while China is dealing with an additional 34% tariff on top of existing ones. These baseline tariffs on all goods are likely to influence the import prices of the Nintendo Switch 2.

This new development lands amidst a climate of global economic instability. JP Morgan, a major player on Wall Street, has increased the chance of a recession to 60%, which could dampen U.S. sales further. Worldwide, economies are feeling the sting of the tariff announcement, with both imports and exports affected, leading to significant shifts in projected growth across various regions.

For American consumers, this might translate to higher costs for the Nintendo Switch 2 than initially anticipated. It’s not great news, particularly when financial pressures and living costs are already tough to manage. Regrettably, we need to hang tight a bit longer to see how this will affect prices for U.S. buyers.

How does this impact your decision on purchasing a Nintendo Switch 2 at launch? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!