Trump's tariffs force Nintendo to delay Switch 2 pre-orders

Summary

Nintendo delays US pre-orders for the Switch 2 due to the Trump Administration’s recently announced tariffs and “evolving market conditions.”
The Switch 2’s release date remains unchanged, still set to launch globally on June 5, 2025.
Nintendo says it will announce a new pre-order window in the US at a later date.

Nintendo recently revealed everything gamers have been waiting to know about the Switch 2 at its Direct event on April 2, including its $450 price tag and its June 5, 2025, release date. Nintendo also announced that pre-orders were set to begin on April 9, but that has now changed.

In a statement to the media, Nintendo announced that it is delaying pre-orders of the Switch 2 in the US due to concerns about the Trump Administration’s newly announced tariffs, which the president unveiled on the same day as the Switch 2 Direct event. It’s unclear if the price of the Switch 2 in the US will now be changed as well.

You can read Nintendo’s official statement below.

“Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Nintendo will update timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged.”

Nintendo Switch 2

4K Capability: Yes
Brand: Nintendo
Screen: 7.9-inch 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution LCD, HDR, 120Hz refresh rate (4K/60fps 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution when docked)
Game support: Switch 2, Switch 2 Edition, Switch
Storage: 256GB (microSD Express cards)
CPU: Unknown

The Switch 2 is going to be insanely powerful thanks to this Nvidia tech

Nvidia has confirmed the Switch 2 will support DLSS, its AI upscaling technology.

When will pre-orders be available again?

The price of the Switch 2 could change due to tariffs

Nintendo

It’s unclear when the Switch 2 will be available for pre-order in the US, and Nintendo says it will “update timing at a later date.” Nintendo is still offering sign-ups to pre-order the Switch 2 on its website. The first batch of invitations was initially set to go out on May 8, but the company hasn’t said yet if that date will be affected as well.

There were concerns that tariffs could impact the price of the Switch 2 in the US, and given Nintendo’s announcement, that’s now become a distinct possibility.

The Trump Administration’s recently announced tariffs are far-reaching and affect most US trading partners, including China, Vietnam, the UK, the European Union, and many more. There were concerns that tariffs could impact the price of the Switch 2 in the US, and given Nintendo’s announcement, that’s now become a distinct possibility. The console was initially announced to be $450, and a bundle with Mario Kart World was also revealed for $500. But those prices are now up in the air.

Retailers in the US have begun responding to the news, with GameStop putting out a statement saying, “GameStop will continue to work closely with Nintendo to provide updates as soon as more information becomes available. Stay tuned for further details.”

It’s important to note that this pre-order delay only affects the US. Pre-orders are expected to proceed on April 9 in other countries worldwide. In some instances, like in the UK, pre-orders have already begun. The Switch 2 is still set to release on June 5, 2025, but its pre-order date and possibly its price remain uncertain in the US as Nintendo evaluates the tariff situation.