Nintendo has put the brakes on Switch 2 pre-orders in the US due to the Trump administration’s new tariffs on exports from Japan.
Gatekeepers News reports that the company had initially planned to open pre-orders on April 9, but now says it needs time to “assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions”.
In a statement, Nintendo explained, “Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the US will not start April 9 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.” The launch date of June 5 remains unchanged, and UK pre-orders will not be affected.
The tariffs, which include a 24% tax on Japanese goods, have sparked concerns that Nintendo may raise prices in the US. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has called the tariffs a “national crisis,” saying, “The government will do its utmost to respond to this crisis, involving the entire country”.
The Switch 2 is priced at $449.99 in the US, with games like Mario Kart World costing $79.99.
It’s unclear if Nintendo factored in the potential tariffs when setting the prices.
