Nintendo recently announced a delay in the pre-order availability for the Switch 2 in the United States. This decision came shortly after the White House introduced new tariffs affecting a wide range of countries. In an email to Tom’s Hardware, Nintendo explained their reasoning: “Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not commence on April 9, 2025, as we need to evaluate the impact of tariffs and adjust to changing market conditions. Further updates will be provided later, but the launch date remains set for June 5, 2025.”
The Switch 2 was unveiled on a Wednesday, priced at $449. Given that manufacturing takes place in China and Vietnam, Nintendo has the option of shipping consoles from Vietnam to North America, sidestepping the hefty tariffs that the U.S. imposed on Chinese imports earlier in the year.
The timing of the tariff announcement surprised Nintendo, coming almost immediately after they launched the Switch 2. President Trump’s “Liberation Day” declaration significantly upped duties on Chinese imports to 54%, but what caught many off guard was a 46% levy imposed on goods from Vietnam.
This tariff increase could necessitate a price change for the console, which is already tagged at a 50% premium over its predecessor. Despite the price hike, hope persists that Nintendo will manage to uphold the initially announced pricing by the launch date in June.
In Vietnam, some commentators speculate the 46% tariff was perhaps a strategic move by Trump to urge Vietnam into negotiations. Indeed, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc is scheduled to visit the U.S. shortly, and any compromises made could lead to reduced tariff rates.
Should the 46% tariffs persist until June 5, Nintendo might be forced to adjust the console’s retail price upward to cover these costs, a move that could disappoint many eager fans. Regardless, Nintendo is not alone in facing these challenges; the broad scope of the tariffs is likely to impact numerous other companies as well.
