Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 Postponed in US Due to Tariff Concerns and Market Changes

Nintendo recently announced that U.S. pre-orders for the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 won’t kick off on April 9 as planned. The company is taking a cautious approach given the current seismic changes in economic policy that might shake up the market landscape.

In a press release, Nintendo clarified their stance, stating, “U.S. pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 will not begin on April 9, 2025. We need to assess the effects of tariffs and the continually shifting market conditions. However, our launch date remains June 5, 2025.”

This delay follows an April 2 announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who revealed an array of new tariffs impacting multiple nations, including Japan and Vietnam. While Nintendo’s headquarters are in Japan, most of their gadgetry is crafted in China and Vietnam. Interestingly, Nintendo had moved part of its manufacturing to Vietnam, possibly to sidestep tariffs on Chinese goods. Now, Vietnam faces a hefty 46% tariff on its exports, while additional charges have brought China’s tariffs up by another 34%. You can imagine how such baseline tariffs on all goods could impact the cost of importing the Switch 2.

These economic tremors echo globally, impacting financial markets. JP Morgan has elevated its U.S. recession likelihood to a daunting 60%, a factor that could influence Switch 2 sales stateside. The ripple effects of tariffs are also rocking economies worldwide, altering trade patterns and upsetting previous growth forecasts.

For Nintendo fans in the U.S., this might mean shelling out more than anticipated for the Switch 2. This isn’t exactly the kind of news you want to hear when everyone’s already grappling with steep living costs. Unfortunately, we’ll have to hang tight a bit longer to know just how these changes will affect American consumers.

Has this twist affected your decision to snag a Nintendo Switch 2 on its release day? We’d love to hear your thoughts!