Nintendo has delayed Swap 2 pre-orders in the US in response to tariffs rolled out by the Trump administration.
Pre-orders for the $449 console have been scheduled to start on April 9, 2025, however have been delayed till additional discover.
“Pre-orders for Nintendo Swap 2 within the U.S. is not going to begin April 9, 2025 to be able to assess the potential impression of tariffs and evolving market situations,” stated Nintendo in a short assertion first noticed by GameSpot reporter Tamoor Hussain. “Nintendo will replace timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged.”
The information comes round 48 hours after Nintendo shared extra particulars concerning the console throughout a particular Swap 2 centered Nintendo Direct, revealing a tool laden with new multiplayer and social options similar to GameChat and GameShare and extra strong innards.
The grand reveal came about simply earlier than President Donald Trump unveiled new tariffs on imports to the nation—that means it’s going to now price extra for corporations to deliver items into the US.
As famous by The BBC, the US has imposed a ten p.c tariff as a baseline—however will hit some nations with charges of as much as 50 p.c. Nintendo’s dwelling nation of Japan has been hit with a 24 p.c tariff.
Nintendo {hardware} manufacturing hubs hit by a few of largest U.S. tariffs
The corporate had been working to shift {hardware} manufacturing away from China to areas similar to Cambodia and Vietnam (thanks Forbes).
The rub, nonetheless, is that Vietnam and Cambodia have been hit with 46 p.c and 49 p.c tariffs, respectively. Two of the best rolled out by Trump’s administration.
It stays to be seen how Nintendo will cope with the state of affairs. However the massive query is whether or not the corporate will eat the price or move on the outlay to prospects.
The Swap 2’s RRP of $449 has already precipitated some sticker shock on-line, with gamers not too long ago bombarding a Nintendo Treehouse dwell broadcast with repeated (and reasonably blunt) requires the corporate to “drop the worth.” Great spot, NintendoLife.
The worth of first-party software program similar to Mario Kart World has additionally raised eyebrows, with Nintendo revealing the title will price $80 at launch—though will probably be obtainable in a Swap 2 launch {hardware} bundle that successfully knocks $30 off that RRP.
