Nintendo delays Switch 2 pre-orders due to new U.S. tariffs

HARDWARE NEWS manhkbrady - Apr 7, 2025, 07:00

A Nintendo representative stated: “The pre-order launch for Switch 2 in the U.S., originally scheduled for April 9, will be postponed to assess the potential impact of the new tariffs and the changing market conditions. We will announce an updated timeline later, but the official release date remains June 5, 2025.”

This marks the first major response from a tech giant to Trump’s new tariff policy, which could directly affect production and consumer costs in the U.S. Most electronics companies, including Nintendo, operate factories in Asia—regions now subject to the highest tariff rates under the new policy. According to Reuters, the original Switch models were manufactured in China and Vietnam.

Nintendo has not yet disclosed where the Switch 2 is being produced, though multiple sources previously claimed that Vietnam and China are still the main production hubs for the new console introduced this year.

A Nintendo Switch 2 showcase exhibition.

In addition to delaying pre-orders, Nintendo has not yet confirmed whether the U.S. price of $449 will be adjusted due to the tariff impact. According to IPC, a trade organization specializing in electronics manufacturing, gaming devices could see price increases of up to 50% if the new tariffs are fully implemented.

Nintendo’s announcement of the Switch 2 coinciding with President Trump’s new tariff declaration has drawn increased attention from the tech world. The new console is an upgraded version of the Switch with a larger size and stronger performance than the original model, which has sold over 150 million units globally since its 2017 launch.

The new console, priced higher than the original’s $300 launch price, is powered by a custom chip developed by Nvidia. Players can use the Switch 2 as a handheld device or connect it to a TV for home gaming. Nintendo plans to release the console in June, alongside a new version of the Mario Kart World game.

As always, for the latest news on hardware launches and industry developments, be sure to follow our dedicated hardware coverage.