Nintendo announced on Friday (4) that it postponed the start of the long-awaited Switch 2 console in the United States because of the new fares imposed by President Donald Trump. The launch, scheduled for June 5, is maintained, but the reservations scheduled to start on April 9 were suspended.
“Pre-sales for Nintendo Switch 2 in the US will not start on April 9, 2025 to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions,” the company said in a statement.
The decision came after Trump announced widespread rates on imported products, including a 24% rate for items from Japan – Nintendo’s country of origin. The measure represents one of the most immediate trade impacts of the new round of tariffs, which also strongly reaches Asian countries where the electronic industry is centralized.
It is still unclear if Nintendo will maintain the original US console price, announced at $ 449.99. The main game, Mario Kart World, is scheduled to cost $ 79.99 in physical media. According to IPC estimates, an electronics sector association, console prices can rise up to 50% with new rates.
With traditionally concentrated production in China and Vietnam – countries hit with tariffs up to 54% – Nintendo has not revealed where the new generation of the console is being manufactured. The company also did not say whether the announced prices already considered the impacts of tariffs.
The first model of the line, Switch 1, has sold over 150 million units since 2017. Switch 2 promises to be larger, more powerful and is equipped with Nvidia’s chip. It can be used as a portable or TV console.
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In Japan, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba classified American tariffs as a “national crisis.” “The government will do their best to respond to this crisis, involving the entire country,” he said.
