Nintendo enthusiasts in the United States who intended to preorder the Switch 2 on April 9 will need to wait, as the company is postponing the preorder process “to evaluate the potential effects of tariffs and changing market conditions.” While the release date remains set for June 5, Nintendo has stated that it will provide updates on the preorder schedule “at a future time.”
This decision marks a significant and unprecedented action from a console manufacturer, directly responding to the recent announcement that President Donald Trump plans to implement extensive tariffs. As a result, the stock market has already taken a hit, with expected increases in prices of essential goods, leaving the tech sector in disarray. Nintendo revealed preorders for the console during its inaugural event showcasing the device to the media—coinciding with the day news of Trump’s tariffs was released.
Video game analyst Mat Piscatella from market research firm Circana noted the shocking extent of the tariffs. “My best estimation is that Nintendo had certain expectations regarding the anticipated tariffs, but the actual tariffs announced were significantly higher and broader than expected,” Piscatella shared with WIRED.
It remains uncertain whether the price of the Switch 2, currently set at $450—a figure that has already caused discontent among some fans—might increase further. Piscatella suggests this is a possibility. “Any responsible business relying on international supply chains is likely to reassess its pricing in the U.S. at this juncture,” he remarked. “They need to.”
Industry analysts and organizations like the Entertainment Software Association have speculated extensively about the detrimental effects Trump’s tariffs could have on the video game market. Back in February, the ESA issued a statement indicating that the tariffs would “negatively affect hundreds of millions of Americans and hurt the industry’s important contributions to the U.S. economy.” Nintendo’s announcement on Friday highlights the potential disruptions that these tariffs could cause.
Piscatella also mentioned that historically, other regions have faced higher video game prices, and “the U.S. may soon find itself among those regions.” He added, “The erratic and chaotic nature of the tariffs and their announcement has clearly left many scrambling to address the consequences.”
