Nintendo has delayed Swap 2 pre-orders in the USA 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 in regards to the console throughout a particular Swap 2 centered Nintendo Direct, revealing a tool laden with new multiplayer and social options equivalent to GameChat and GameShare and extra sturdy innards.
The grand reveal came about simply earlier than President Donald Trump unveiled new tariffs on imports to the nation—which means it’ll now value extra for firms to convey items into the USA.
As famous by The BBC, the USA 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 residence 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 equivalent to Cambodia and Vietnam (thanks Forbes).
The rub, nevertheless, 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 huge query is whether or not the corporate will eat the fee or go on the outlay to prospects.
The Swap 2’s RRP of $449 has already brought on some sticker shock on-line, with gamers lately bombarding a Nintendo Treehouse dwell broadcast with repeated (and quite blunt) requires the corporate to “drop the value.” Great spot, NintendoLife.
The value of first-party software program equivalent to Mario Kart World has additionally raised eyebrows, with Nintendo revealing the title will value $80 at launch—though it will likely be obtainable in a Swap 2 launch {hardware} bundle that successfully knocks $30 off that RRP.
