Nintendo Delays Switch 2 Pre-Orders Due to Trump Tariffs

So… all those PREVIOUS reports that the price was set higher due to tariffs previously are debunked by this report.

Nintendo has officially delayed U.S. pre-orders for that highly anticipated Switch 2 console coming out of the House of Mario, citing some pretty serious concerns over newly announced tariffs from President Donald Trump. The company confirmed to CNBC that pre-orders, initially set to go live on April 9, 2025, will now be postponed indefinitely as Nintendo evaluates the economic impact of the new policy.

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

While of course the mainstream press scrambles to frame this as another reason to go after Trump’s economic decisions, this latest development here ironically actually disproves a wave of earlier media narratives. Just days ago, reports circulated claiming the Switch 2’s $450 price tag—up from the original $300 for the Switch 1—was the direct result of Trump’s influence or potential tariffs. Even though it was obvious tariffs had nothing to do with the price hike (console prices are typically set months in advance), it didn't stop many outlets from running with the story. Those reports were entirely speculative at best, and misleading at worst.

Now that we all can actually have a direct statement from Nintendo, we know that pre-orders were planned to proceed before Trump’s announcement. In fact, Nintendo only delayed them after the tariffs were unveiled—clearly indicating the price was already set and unaffected by any prior Trump policy. So, in other words, the console’s $450 price point was not driven by Trump’s tariffs, as critics had previously claimed. This CNBC report shuts the door on that baseless assumption, but doesn't change the fact that the price of the Switch 2 could actually go even higher than previously thought.

It’s another good reminder to everyone of how quickly the media ecosystem jumps at any chance to pin economic or market events on Trump conclusions, often without tangible evidence. But when facts come out—like in this case—the narrative falls apart.

That’s not to say the tariff issue isn’t serious. It absolutely is. Most modern electronics, including the Switch 2, are manufactured in Asia. According to Reuters, Nintendo has previously manufactured its hardware in China and Vietnam—and now these two countries have hit with some of the steepest tariff hikes: 54% for China and 46% for Vietnam. Though Nintendo hasn’t disclosed the manufacturing location for the Switch 2 as of yet, the company’s delay in pre-orders shows that it is taking these developments pretty seriously. This is an unprecedented move in the game industry that I can't recall ever happening on such a grand scale before.

IPC is the major trade group for electronics manufacturers, and they estimate that tariffs could force console prices up by as much as 50%!!! So while the initial $450 price tag wasn’t due to Trump’s tariffs, future pricing adjustments absolutely could be—depending on how Nintendo decides to respond.

Nintendo fans can breathe a little easier knowing that the console’s launch date—June 5, 2025—remains unchanged... and you may need to start saving twice as much to get to buying one. The Switch 2 features a larger screen, faster internals, and a new custom Nvidia chip. It functions both as a handheld and a home console, and it will debut alongside a brand-new Mario Kart title... But don't even get me started on the $80 game prices.

This launch is turning into the most expensive shit show of a console launch we may have ever seen, this side of a Neo Geo.

~Smash