Nintendo just threw a curveball at fans like me who were gearing up to preorder the long-awaited Switch 2. Originally set to open U.S. preorders on April 9, the company has now hit the brakes, citing uncertainty around newly imposed tariffs by President Donald Trump.
As a long-time gamer and tech enthusiast, I find this development frustrating but understandable. The announcement came just days after Trump unveiled a fresh round of sweeping tariffs — roughly 30% on tech imports from China and Taiwan. Given how deeply the gaming industry relies on those supply chains, Nintendo seems to be playing it smart by reassessing the economic landscape before going full steam ahead.
Here’s the official word:
“Preorders 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,” a Nintendo spokesperson told TechCrunch.
What’s important to note — and something I breathed a sigh of relief about — is that the actual release date of the Switch 2 remains unchanged. We’re still looking at a June 5, 2025 launch, and the console will retail at $450. So while the preorder window is in limbo, the release is not.
For those wondering what we’re getting, this marks Nintendo’s first new console since the original Switch dropped in 2017. It’s set to launch with Mario Kart World, a fresh installment bundled with select units of the Switch 2. That alone makes it worth the wait.
But back to the tariffs — this could be the beginning of a ripple effect across the tech sector. Trump's new import taxes could raise manufacturing and distribution costs, forcing companies like Nintendo to rethink pricing or supply strategies. Whether this means higher prices or tighter availability down the road is still up in the air, but it’s definitely a scenario I’ll be watching closely.
As someone who tracks gaming trends, it’s clear this isn't just about preorders — it's a sign of how geopolitical moves are increasingly influencing tech rollouts. For now, all we can do is wait for Nintendo to share a new preorder date, and keep fingers crossed that June 5 doesn’t slip off the calendar next.
I’ll be updating this space with any new info Nintendo releases. Stay tuned if you’re just as eager to get your hands on the Switch 2.
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