Get ready, gamers! In the April 2 Nintendo Direct, excitement was in the air as it was announced that the Nintendo Switch 2 would be available for preorder starting April 9, 2025, with a launch date set for June 5. However, the same day, President Donald Trump revealed sweeping global reciprocal tariffs that have thrown a wrench into Nintendo’s plans.
Shortly after these announcements, Nintendo announced a delay for the April 9 preorder date, with Nintendo of America telling Tom’s Guide that it needs time to “assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.”
But the news doesn’t stop there—Canada is feeling the impact as well.
The Canadian Delay
Our friends north of the border won’t be able to preorder the Switch 2 on April 9 either. According to MobileSyrup, Nintendo has confirmed it’s pushing back pre-orders in Canada too. Nintendo of Canada issued a statement indicating, “pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in Canada will not start on April 9, 2025, in order to align with the timing of pre-orders to be determined in the US.”
Don’t fret, though! Nintendo reassured that this delay will not affect the launch on June 5, 2025. “The launch date remains unchanged,” they noted.
Both regions can expect further updates from Nintendo, although there hasn’t been any new information yet. The company is likely weighing the potential effects of Trump’s tariffs, which may get more complicated in the near future.
A Broader Perspective
In contrast, pre-orders for the Switch 2 are already live and sold out in the UK. This trend suggests that as soon as U.S. and Canadian pre-orders open, they’re likely to fly off the shelves as well, despite ongoing demands from fans to “drop the price.”
The Bottom Line
Regardless of these tariffs, it seems unlikely Nintendo will deviate from the announced price of $449. Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser emphasized that the price reflects the enhancements made in the Switch 2 and confirmed that tariffs won’t influence the cost.
Still, it’s evident Nintendo is keeping a close eye on the situation. The company has already shifted production to countries like Vietnam to steer clear of Chinese tariffs and reportedly sent a significant amount of stock to North America ahead of the tariff implementations.
Mark your calendars! The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to make its global debut on June 5, 2025, at a price of $449.99 / £395.99 for the standalone version or $499.99 / £429.99 when bundled with Mario Kart World. Get hyped!