Nintendo has postponed U.S. pre-orders for its long-awaited Switch 2 console, originally scheduled for April 9, as it evaluates the potential impact of the latest round of U.S. tariffs especially on Vietnam, where it shifted its base five years ago from China.
“Pre-orders 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,” the company said in a statement. The official launch date of June 5 remains unchanged.
The delay follows sweeping tariffs introduced this week by the Trump administration, which target a wide range of foreign goods — particularly from Asia, where Nintendo’s supply chain is heavily concentrated. The tariffs come amid a renewed focus on protecting U.S. manufacturing and tech production, though consumer electronics makers warn of higher prices and possible product delays.
The Switch 2 is Nintendo’s most significant hardware release in nearly a decade, building on the blockbuster success of the original Nintendo Switch. First launched in March 2017, the hybrid handheld-console went on to sell over 150 million units worldwide, surpassing the Game Boy and trailing only the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS in lifetime sales. The Switch helped revitalize Nintendo’s fortunes after the commercial struggles of the Wii U, which sold just 13.6 million units globally.
The original Switch maintained strong momentum with hit franchises like Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Its lifespan was extended with iterations like the Switch Lite and OLED model. The new Switch 2, revealed just days before the tariffs were announced, is priced at $449.99 with day-one titles like Mario Kart World expected to cost $80.
Last time in 2019, Nintendo faced trade-related challenges and shifted part of its Switch production out of China to Vietnam amid earlier U.S.-China trade tensions. Now, as tariffs threaten a new wave of costs, industry analysts say gaming hardware may become collateral damage in the ongoing trade war.
In 2024, video game hardware sales reached $17.9 billion in the U.S., according to NPD Group, with Nintendo accounting for a significant share. Any disruption to its launch cycle could reverberate across retail and digital ecosystems ahead of the critical summer and holiday sales windows.
Nintendo has not said when pre-orders will resume, only that it is monitoring the situation and will provide updates “at a later date.”