Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders delayed, new price hike likely – here's why

Bad news for gamers: Nintendo announced on Friday, April 4, that it is delaying pre-orders for its upcoming Switch 2 in the US. In a statement made to CNBC, the gaming giant said the date is being pushed “to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.”

Nintendo said it will update the timing of preorders “at a later date,” adding that the console’s June 5 launch date remains unchanged.

Also: Nintendo Switch 2 revealed: Specs, pricing, release date, and more official details

These changes are in response to President Trump’s new wave of economic tariffs, which were revealed earlier this week and will go into effect on Saturday, April 5. Some of the steepest hikes are being levied at Asian countries, where many of the world’s largest tech corporations manufacture their products.

Vietnam, for example, was hit with a massive 46% tariff, one of the biggest on Trump’s list. And as CNBC points out, China now has a tariff rate of 54%. The first Switch console was produced in China and Vietnam. With these countries caught in the crossfire, a Switch 2 price increase could be imminent.

In its initial report, CNBC states that IPC, an electronics manufacturing trade group, expects console prices could rise by 50% because of the tariffs. The Switch 2 base console, per Nintendo, was expected to retail for $449.99. Keeping IPC’s prediction in mind, it’s possible that Nintendo’s new hardware could jump to $675 when the preorder window returns. I personally wouldn’t be surprised if the company decided to round up and charge $700 instead.

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Nintendo received a wave of backlash after the Switch 2 showcase, during which it revealed the console’s aforementioned price point and the games that will be available at launch.   

Not only is the device significantly more expensive than its predecessor (the Switch was $300 at launch), but players also became upset at the new costs for certain titles and accessories. A digital copy of Mario Kart World will retail for $80, and a pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers costs $90. It led to people flooding a Nintendo Direct Treehouse livestream, demanding the brand “DROP THE PRICE” in protest.

Nintendo has yet to announce whether it will increase the final price, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility. 

In another report, CNBC claims that the President spoke to a “key Vietnamese official about a potential agreement to reduce tariffs.” So, the price of the Switch 2 could stay the same (maybe even go down). However, the economy under the Trump administration has been so unpredictable that it’s hard to say what will happen with any confidence.