Nintendo’s Switch 2 Pre-orders Affected by Tariffs, But June 5 Launch Date Unchanged

Nintendo has decided to hold off on taking pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the U.S., following a recent shake-up in global trade tariffs announced by the White House. In a statement to Tom’s Hardware, Nintendo clarified that the original April 9, 2025, date for starting pre-orders had to be postponed. “We’re taking this time to evaluate how tariffs and dynamic market conditions might affect us. We’ll provide an update on the new timeline soon,” the company assured. Importantly, the planned launch date of June 5, 2025, remains unchanged.

Fresh off the press, Nintendo just revealed the upcoming Switch 2, which is set to hit the shelves at $449. While the consoles are put together in China and Vietnam, the U.S. has posed a threat of steep import duties, especially targeting Chinese products. However, Nintendo has a workaround — shipping units from Vietnam to North America, sidestepping the hefty tariffs that were placed on Chinese imports earlier in the year by Trump.

The timing of the whirlwind White House announcement, coming just after the Switch 2’s reveal, seemed to catch Nintendo by surprise. These “Liberation Day” tariffs significantly ramped up the duties on Chinese goods to 54%, and in a twist, Vietnamese exports were slapped with a 46% duty, creating a complex challenge for Nintendo.

With these new tariffs, Nintendo’s original pricing strategy might be at risk. Due to the steep increase in import taxes from Vietnam, the price of the new console could potentially rise, adding more cost to a device that’s already 50% pricier than the original Switch. Fans can only hope Nintendo finds a way to maintain the announced price point once sales kick-off in June.

Adding an intriguing twist to this development, there’s speculation from Vietnamese media that the 46% tariff could be a strategic move by Trump to entice Vietnam into new trade discussions. The Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister, Ho Duc Phoc, is set to visit the U.S. soon, and there’s a chance that successful negotiations could lead to a reduction in tariffs.

If, however, the 46% duty sticks around by June 5, Nintendo might have no choice but to increase the Switch 2’s price to offset the hefty import taxes. This prospect is bound to let down Nintendo’s loyal fan base. Yet, it’s worth noting that Nintendo isn’t alone in this predicament—these comprehensive tariffs are posing similar challenges for many companies.