Eager fans will have to wait a while to pre-order their Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. as Nintendo delays U.S. pre-orders for its next console due to the Trump administration’s announcement of widespread international tariffs. The company said the Switch 2’s June 5 launch date will not change, but pre-orders will be pushed to a later, unspecified date while it assesses the impact of tariffs on the market.
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order delayed
In a statement shared with IGN and other gaming outlets, Nintendo said U.S. pre-orders for the Switch 2 will not begin on April 9 as previously announced.
“In order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and changing market conditions, U.S. pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 will begin on April 9, 2025,” the company said in a statement released on Friday. “Nintendo will update the timing at a later date. The release date of June 5, 2025 remains unchanged.”
Previously, the Trump administration announced comprehensive tariffs on imported goods from all over the world, shocking global stock markets and causing Wall Street to lose more than $6 trillion (approximately 514,599 billion rupees) in two days. Anticipated U.S. tariffs are said to be the primary reason for the high price of Nintendo Switch 2. It’s unclear whether Nintendo will assess the market situation and raise the price of the new console before launching it on June 5.
The only 256GB storage option of Nintendo Switch 2 is priced at $449.99 (approximately Rs. 38,500) in the US. The console will also be available in the form of a Mario Kart World bundle with a suggested retail price of $499.99 (approximately Rs. 42,725).
Impact of tariffs
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on imports from other countries, including higher tariffs on imports from China, Japan, Vietnam and other countries. Analysts say the tariffs could have an adverse impact on the entire video game industry. The U.S. gaming industry’s trade body, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), told IGN on Friday that Trump’s tariffs will have “a real harmful impact on the industry.” ESA spokesperson Aubrey Quinn told the publication that the tariffs will impact pricing, consumer spending and revenue, which could lead to further layoffs in the gaming industry.
On April 2, Nintendo gave a full look at the Switch 2 during an hour-long Nintendo Direct, finally sharing details about the hybrid console and the games coming in 2025 and beyond. Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on June 5th.