In a recent announcement, Nintendo disclosed that they’re pushing back the US pre-order date for the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. Initially slated for April 9, 2025, the new start date will now be sometime later, influenced largely by a significant shift in economic policy. The company is keen to assess how these changes might impact the market before moving forward.
As per the official statement released to the media, Nintendo said, “Due to the need to evaluate potential effects of tariffs and the changing market landscape, US pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 will not commence on April 9, 2025, as earlier planned. We will provide an update on the timeline in due course. It is important to note that the June 5, 2025 launch date remains unchanged.”
The backdrop to this delay involves a sweeping set of tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on April 2. These tariffs affect numerous countries worldwide, including Japan where Nintendo’s headquarters is located. Interestingly, Japan is not where the bulk of the manufacturing of Nintendo products transpires. That responsibility mainly lies with China and significantly, Vietnam. A strategic move saw Nintendo shift a portion of its production to Vietnam, possibly anticipating the imposition of tariffs on China. Of late, Vietnam has been walloped with a hefty 46% tariff, whereas China is contending with an additional 34% increase over existing tariffs. This overarching tariff strategy has direct implications on importing the Nintendo Switch 2 into the US.
Globally, economies are wrestling with the aftershock of these tariff announcements. For example, financial titan JP Morgan has upped its recession risk level to a stark 60%, forecasting potential downturns that could reverberate across the US market. This turbulence is predicted to interfere with both projected import and export growth worldwide.
For gamers in the US, this could potentially translate into a heftier price tag for the Nintendo Switch 2 than initially anticipated. The timing is far from ideal as many are already feeling the pinch of tightening budgets and the ever-intensifying cost of living. Unfortunately, we’ll need to sit tight a bit longer to truly understand the financial implications for American consumers.
Are these changes affecting your decision to grab a Nintendo Switch 2 at launch? We’re eager to hear your thoughts! Let us know how you’re feeling about this news.
