Nintendo has announced that it will not begin pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the United States next week due to newly imposed high tariffs on exports from Japan.
The company revealed the eagerly awaited console on Wednesday, coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s announcement of extensive new global tariffs.
Initially, it was stated that US pre-orders would open within days, but plans have now been altered.
“In order to evaluate the potential effects of tariffs and changing market conditions, pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the US will not launch on April 9,” the company stated.
However, it maintains its intention to release the console on June 5, as originally scheduled.
Nintendo clarified that this decision affects only the US market, leaving UK pre-orders unaffected.
Tariffs are taxes imposed on items brought in from other nations.
Japan, the home of the gaming giant, is facing a 24% tariff that the company must either absorb or pass on to consumers.
While Trump claims these global tariffs will enhance the US economy and safeguard jobs, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba described them as a “national crisis” on Friday, according to local media sources.
“The government will make every effort to address this crisis, involving the entire nation,” he remarked.
This decision may spark worries among fans that Nintendo is contemplating a price adjustment in the US.
The price of the console’s games has also been flagged as a point of concern.
On Wednesday, it was disclosed that the Switch 2 would retail for $449.99 in the US, with a physical copy of its flagship title, Mario Kart World, listed at $79.99 – although it can be obtained at a lower price when bought with the console.
It remains unclear whether Nintendo considered potential tariffs when initially pricing the console; although, even if they did, they likely did not anticipate the tariff rate to reach the 24% level set by Trump.
