Nintendo has officially confirmed that preorders for its next-generation console, the Nintendo Switch 2, will begin in the United States on April 24. The highly anticipated console, which retains its original retail price of $449.99, was initially set for preorder availability on April 9. However, the company delayed the launch to evaluate the potential impact of new U.S. tariffs on its manufacturing operations.
The delay followed the announcement of sweeping new trade tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month. Under the revised trade policy, the U.S. has imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese imports and a 10% tariff on Vietnamese imports, significantly affecting tech companies like Nintendo and Apple that rely heavily on manufacturing in these countries. While the Trump administration has introduced a 90-day pause on the previously planned 46% tariff from Vietnam, a universal 10% import levy now applies across the board to all countries, including Vietnam.
Nintendo’s original Switch consoles were manufactured in both China and Vietnam, and the company is now facing increased production costs due to the new tariffs. Although the base price of the Switch 2 console remains unchanged for U.S. consumers, Nintendo has indicated that the prices of some accessories may be increased to offset the higher import duties.
The Switch 2 is expected to bring several hardware upgrades over its predecessor, including enhanced graphics, faster processing capabilities, and improved battery life. These improvements are aimed at maintaining Nintendo’s competitive edge in the gaming console market amid rising competition from Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox series.
With preorders now set to launch on April 24, U.S. consumers eager to get their hands on the Switch 2 can begin placing their orders through authorized retailers and Nintendo’s official online store. Despite geopolitical uncertainties and rising production costs, Nintendo remains committed to delivering its latest console to fans on time, ahead of the upcoming holiday season.
The company has not yet revealed the official release date for the Switch 2 but is expected to provide more details during its upcoming digital showcase later this spring.
