Nintendo has pumped the brakes on U.S. preorders for the Switch 2, citing concerns over newly announced tariffs set to take effect on April 5. While the console is still set to launch on June 5, the lack of a revised preorder date raises questions about Nintendo’s next move.
In an official statement via The Verge, Nintendo confirmed that Switch 2 preorders will no longer begin on April 9 as originally planned:
Trump's Tariffs and Their Impact on Nintendo Swtitch 2
Trump’s latest round of tariffs imposes fresh taxes on imports from key gaming hardware production hubs like China, Japan, and Vietnam.
All electronic components and accessories from China, including chips and circuit boards vital to the Switch 2, are slapped with a 54% tariff. For Vietnam, the production costs are affected after a 46% increase was proposed for all manufacturing and assembly services. Japan’s 24% tariff on finished electronics and game cartridges could make physical game copies and accessories more expensive.
Given that Nintendo sources chipsets, cartridges, assembled units, and more from these regions, it now faces a critical decision: absorb the costs, shift production, or pass the increase on to consumers.
Right now, it has not announced a...
