Nintendo recently announced that the US pre-orders for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 will no longer start on the previously scheduled day of April 9, and they’ve decided to hold off until they can gauge the effects of some significant economic shifts. Yes, the company is playing it cautious, waiting to see how the new economic policy landscape might affect the market.
In a statement given to the press, Nintendo stated, “Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not begin on April 9, 2025, as we are currently evaluating the potential implications from tariffs and evolving market conditions. We’ll provide updated timing information in due course. However, the launch date of June 5, 2025, remains unchanged.”
Just a week earlier, on April 2, President Donald Trump made waves by announcing a sweeping array of tariffs targeting countries worldwide, including Japan, Nintendo’s home country. Now, although Japan houses Nintendo’s headquarters, the manufacturing magic happens elsewhere. Nintendo’s hardware is mostly produced in China and Vietnam—the latter of which has been in the crosshairs of these new tariffs. Given the hefty 46% tariff imposed on Vietnam and an additional 34% on China, the production landscape for Nintendo could be facing some serious headwinds. This makes all imports of the Nintendo Switch 2 liable to costly implications.
This tariff turmoil arrives amid broader economic uncertainty, with JP Morgan recently upping its projection of a U.S. recession to a worrying 60%. This forecast isn’t just a localized issue; it is part of a ripple effect that’s touching economies far and wide, subsequently causing turmoil in international trade and potentially curtailing expected economic growth.
For Switch enthusiasts in the U.S., unfortunately, this could mean that the price tag on the Nintendo Switch 2 might be heftier than initially thought. It’s certainly not what anyone wants to hear, especially when the financial climate feels sharp and unyielding. With wallets already feeling pinched, we wait with bated breath to see just how the cost will change for consumers on American shores.
Considering these developments, are your plans to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day still on or planning to hold off? We’d love to hear how this news influences your decision!
