Alongside the launch of a brand new console and an exciting lineup of games, Nintendo has also sparked some sticker shock during its recent Switch 2 event. The upcoming console is set to retail at $449.99 — a significant increase from the original Switch, which launched at $299.99 back in 2017. Some industry experts speculate that this price rise may be influenced by the ongoing uncertainties surrounding President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs. The timing of the announcement was notably awkward, coinciding with Trump’s declaration of a new wave of global tariffs on the very same day as Nintendo’s event.
However, Doug Bowser, the president of Nintendo of America, asserts that tariffs did not directly influence the console’s pricing. “Disregard [the April 2nd announcement]. Any prior tariffs did not play a role in determining the price itself,” he stated during a conversation with me the day after the event.
While this may be the case, the ramifications of the April 2nd tariff announcement are already evident. Just two days post-event, Nintendo revealed a delay in Switch 2 preorders, which were initially scheduled to start on April 9th. This decision was made to “evaluate the possible effects of tariffs and changing market conditions.” As of now, no new date for preorders has been set, raising questions about whether the console’s pricing will…
