If you haven’t heard yet, pre-orders for the Switch 2 are indefinitely delayed in the U.S.. While customers in the UK can currently pre-order the console (as long as supplies last), those in America will need to be patient. The delays in pre-orders are a response to recently announced tariffs by President Donald Trump, which came shortly after the latest Nintendo Direct presentation. Canadian customers will also face delays, as confirmed by MobileSyrup and a statement from Walmart Canada via social media.
Nintendo stated to Engadget: “Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not commence as planned on April 9, 2025, to evaluate the potential effects of tariffs and changing market conditions. We will provide an update regarding timing at a future date. The launch date of June 5, 2025, remains unchanged.”
President Trump has recently declared a 90-day pause on steep “reciprocal” tariffs affecting 75 nations. However, the tariff on China is set to increase to 125 percent, with reports suggesting it may reach 145 percent.
The actual implications for the Switch 2 pre-orders and their pricing remain uncertain. However, it is known that Nintendo began relocating some of its Switch console production to Vietnam back in 2019. Currently, the reciprocal tariff for Vietnam was initially set at 46 percent, but with the recent announcement, it appears to be paused in favor of a 10 percent reciprocal tariff during the 90-day period.
Speculation is mounting that Nintendo might increase production of the Switch 2 units in Vietnam to meet shipping schedules to the U.S., potentially even selling them at a loss in the short run.
Nintendo previously announced that pre-orders in North America would begin on April 9, with a broader release scheduled for June 5, and an anticipated starting price of $450. However, this pricing could change in light of the new tariffs. Participating retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, and more, will be offering the Switch 2 when it launches in the U.S.
Nintendo’s pre-order process has specific stipulations. Only individuals aged 18 and older can register via their Nintendo account and express their interest in pre-ordering. Invitations will be sent via email and are valid for 72 hours. The priority for these invitations is given based on a first-come, first-served basis to those who have maintained a Nintendo Switch Online membership for a minimum of 12 months and achieved at least 50 hours of gameplay by April 2, 2025.
The Switch 2 shown in the teaser trailer reveals that it will feature a larger design and an upgraded Joy-Con experience, which includes new controls and functionality. Users can expect enhancements like a 7.9-inch LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR support, and 1080p resolution while docked, enabling gameplay at up to 4K resolution on TVs. The console’s storage has also been boosted to 256GB and is expandable with newer microSD Express cards.
