Nintendo has made the unexpected move to delay Switch 2 pre-orders in the U.S., citing concerns over Trump’s tariffs and shifting market dynamics.

Originally scheduled for April 9, U.S. pre-orders now face an unspecified delay. Nintendo has assured fans that the Switch 2’s June 5, 2025 launch date remains unaffected.

Nintendo provided IGN with this statement:

Due to potential tariff impacts and changing market conditions, Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the U.S. will not begin on April 9, 2025. We will share updated timing later. The June 5, 2025 launch date remains unchanged.

The pre-order delay is exclusive to the U.S., with no changes reported for regions like the UK.

Nintendo priced the Switch 2 at $449.99, with a Mario Kart World bundle at $499.99. The standalone Mario Kart World game carries a $79.99 price tag.

Nintendo Switch 2 includes the following:

Nintendo’s statement today suggests it may raise Switch 2 and game prices further, amid growing backlash to its next-gen pricing approach.

In a YouTube video, former Nintendo of America PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang expressed concerns about Nintendo’s handling of the Switch 2’s $449.99 price reveal and the $79.99 Mario Kart World price during this week’s Nintendo Direct.

“This feels like a critical moment for Nintendo, though I don’t want to overstate it,” Ellis remarked.

U.S. markets dropped today after China responded to Trump’s tariffs with a 34% tax on U.S. goods, effective next week, following a 54% import tax on Chinese products.

Just before U.S. markets opened, Trump commented, “China miscalculated; they’re in a panic,” and reaffirmed his unwavering stance on the policies.

Global economic uncertainty now looms, with some media outlets signaling the end of affordable goods for U.S. consumers as tariffs drive inflation and higher prices.

Tariffs act as taxes on imported goods. While companies could absorb these costs, they typically pass them on to consumers, likely increasing prices for gaming and tech products.

Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad noted that Trump’s unexpected tariffs on countries like Vietnam, where Nintendo shifted some Switch 2 production to avoid U.S. tariffs on China, may have prompted a strategic reassessment.

“Despite moving some manufacturing to Vietnam to mitigate U.S. tariffs on China, the threat of reciprocal tariffs on Vietnam and Japan, which are higher than anticipated, has likely forced Nintendo to consider global price increases,” Ahmad explained.

For more, explore all announcements from the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct and expert opinions on the Switch 2 price and Mario Kart World’s $80 price.

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