Nintendo has decided to hold off on starting pre-orders for the much-anticipated Switch 2 in the U.S., a change prompted by new tariffs introduced by the White House just recently. This news comes shortly after an official statement was given to Tom’s Hardware, citing the company’s need to evaluate how these wider-reaching tariffs might affect their operations and market scenarios.
In an email, Nintendo conveyed, “We won’t be opening pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the U.S. on April 9, 2025, as we need to look into the possible effects of both the tariffs and changing market conditions. We’ll update everyone on the revised timeline in due course. However, should this assessment go smoothly, the console is still set to launch as planned on June 5, 2025.”
Earlier announcements revealed that the Switch 2 would hit the market at $449. Nintendo’s manufacturing primarily takes place in China and Vietnam. While past threats concerning heavy import duties from the U.S. targeted Chinese goods particularly, Nintendo might dodge these duties by funneling products made in Vietnam to North American markets, sidestepping the higher tariffs the U.S. applied to Chinese imports earlier this year.
The new tariffs seemed to catch Nintendo off guard, dropping just after the Switch 2’s official unveiling. Tariffs on Chinese imports to the U.S. were raised to 54% under Trump’s “Liberation Day” measures, but unexpectedly, Vietnam also faced a 46% tariff imposition.
Naturally, this raises concerns that Nintendo might eventually need to adjust the initially announced price, given the steep tariffs on Vietnamese products. For buyers and the company alike, this scenario is less than ideal, since the new console already costs 50% more than its predecessor. There’s still a glimmer of hope, though, that the initial pricing might remain intact come June 5.
On the negotiation front, some Vietnamese journalists have speculated that the hefty 46% tariffs could be a strategy by Trump to bring Vietnam to the negotiating table. Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ho Duc Phoc, is planning a visit to the U.S. in the coming days, and with some concessions, there might even be an opportunity to lower these tariffs.
However, should these 46% tariffs on products from Vietnam remain unchanged by the June 5 launch, Nintendo might have no choice but to transfer these additional costs onto consumers, resulting in higher retail prices for the Switch 2. This would inevitably disappoint many fans eager for the new console. But with many companies likely facing similar challenges under the sweeping tariffs, Nintendo isn’t alone in navigating these difficult waters.
