Nintendo Hits Pause on Switch 2 Pre-Orders in the U.S.—Blame the Tariffs, Not the Toads

April 4, 2025

If you were planning on refreshing Nintendo’s website on April 9 to lock in a pre-order for the shiny new Switch 2, you can put that F5 key to rest. Nintendo has postponed U.S. pre-orders, and no, it’s not because Bowser hijacked the warehouse. The real culprit this time? Tariffs.

Thanks to a new round of import taxes from the Trump administration—34% on Chinese goods and 46% on those from Vietnam—Nintendo’s supply chain just got a lot more expensive. Since Switch 2 was built in those regions, the company is hitting a pause to crunch the numbers and figure out what this means for pricing.

In classic corporate speak, Nintendo said:

“Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025, to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Nintendo will update the timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025, is unchanged."

Translation: The console is still coming, but we’re unsure if we can sell it without triggering a mass wallet exodus.

At $449.99, the Switch 2 isn’t exactly pocket change. Add $79.99 for first-party titles like Mario Kart World; fans were already wincing. With tariffs looming overhead like a blue shell on the final lap, the mood has shifted from “hype” to “mild financial panic.”

Fans made their feelings known during Nintendo’s recent live streams, where enthusiasm collided with sticker shock. While Nintendo hasn’t said whether prices will go up, the delay in pre-orders has everyone bracing for impact.

Of course, Nintendo is not the only one affected by this economic boss battle. Apple, Amazon, and even U.S. automakers are affected by the same tariffs, with production halts, price increases, and sliding stock values becoming the new norm.

Still, Nintendo insists the June 5 launch date stands. So the Switch 2 is still coming—you can’t commit to it yet. In the meantime, maybe dust off your old Switch and revisit Breath of the Wild. It still works, it still rules, and best of all—it’s already paid for.