Nintendo has just revealed that pre-orders for the Switch 2 will begin in the United States on April 24. Despite previous concerns, the pricing remains steady, with the base system available at $449.99. For those interested in a bundle, the package including Mario Kart World will be priced at $499.99.
Initially, there was a hold-up for US pre-orders due to the need to evaluate how tariffs and dynamic market conditions might affect the release. As it turns out, some Switch 2 accessories will see a price increase. The Joy-Con 2 controllers, which were initially priced at $89.99, will now cost $94.99, and the Pro Controller has also seen a slight price hike, moving from $79.99 to $84.99. In addition, the camera, dock set, wheel set, and charging grips for the Switch 2 are all facing price bumps.
Nintendo has stated in their announcement that additional price adjustments for their products could occur in the future as they monitor market trends.
The console’s launch is planned for June 5. Originally, pre-orders were intended to start on April 9. However, this was delayed as Nintendo navigated the timing clash with a major announcement from President Donald Trump regarding tariffs. On April 9, President Trump proposed a 90-day delay for a number of tariffs, but kept those on Chinese goods, which could affect gaming products.
The prices for Nintendo’s anticipated titles, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Banaza (set for a July 17 release), will remain unchanged at $79.99 and $69.99, respectively.
On the hardware front, the Switch 2 boasts significant enhancements over its predecessor. These include a bigger display with HDR capabilities, an extra USB Type-C port, and a beefed-up graphics chip from Nvidia. The increased $449.99 price tag for the Switch 2 marks a substantial rise from the original Switch, which debuted at $299.99. This change has sparked a wave of fan comments on Nintendo’s forums, urging the company to reconsider the price point.
Along with their announcement, Nintendo expressed apologies for the delay, reassuring customers by stating they “hope this reduces some of the uncertainty our customers may be experiencing.”
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