Nintendo Postpones Preorder Date for Nintendo Switch 2 due to Trump Tariffs
Updating: Nintendo's Switch 2 Release and Tariff Woes
Tech-savvy gamers in the U.S., eager to get their hands on Nintendo's latest console, the Switch 2, might face a slight hiccup. The coveted pre-order date initially set for April 9, 2025, has been postponed, as revealed by a statement from Nintendo. The delay seems to be a strategic move to gauge the influence of U.S. tariffs and evolving market conditions, assuring fans that the June 5, 2025, launch date stays intact.
In a statement to Gizmodo, Nintendo explained, "We've decided to hold off on pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S., starting on April 9, 2025, to evaluate the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market trends. We'll update the pre-order timeline soon."
The Switch 2 was unveiled in all its glory during the official Switch 2 Direct on April 2, 2025. At the event, Nintendo revealed the system's key features, offered an enticing price point of $450, and announced its U.S. launch date. Just a day later, Trump tossed a curveball, announcing sweeping tariffs affecting nearly every nation, including manufacturing hubs for Nintendo's hardware, such as Cambodia and Vietnam, as highlighted by The Financial Times.
An industry of analysts suggested that Nintendo baked tariff costs into the Switch 2's price from the get-go. Yet, the company still feels the sting of Trump's arbitrary import tax scheme, which seizes a whopping 46% of Vietnam's products and 49% of Cambodia's exports.
Yearning to avoid the scalpers' notorious grip, Nintendo has pledged to produce sufficient Switch 2 units. However, the pressing question now revolves around adjustments to pricing to offset the eye-watering surge in shipping costs due to the tariffs. With pre-order numbers predicted to soar far beyond the approximated 400,000 units allegedly stockpiled in the U.S. pre-tariff, the stakes are high for Nintendo to balance production costs and consumer affordability.
The original Switch, with 13.4 million units sold globally during its launch year in 2017, according to Omdia data, set a solid precedent. Omdia projected Nintendo would sell 14.7 million Switch 2 units in 2025, a forecast taken before the impact of tariffs was gambling the game.
Stay tuned for further updates as the situation unfolds.
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Key Factors to Note:
- Pre-order Delay: The pre-order start date for the Switch 2 in the U.S., initially scheduled for April 9, 2025, has been pushed back to evaluate the potential impact of U.S. tariffs on Switch 2 production and market conditions. The launch date of June 5, 2025, runs untouched.
- Manufacturing Implications: The latest tariffs could lead to augmented production costs due to significant new tariffs on Vietnam (46%) and Cambodia (49%), potentially impacting the Switch 2's production. However, no official announcements concerning cost shifts to consumers have been made yet.
- Pricing Concerns: The tariffs are projected to result in increased prices for the Switch 2 and its games. The system is priced at $449.99 with the Mario Kart World bundle at $499.99. It's not unreasonable to expect tariff-related price increases for the Switch 2 and its games to keep up with market demands.
- In light of the tariff concerns, tech companies like Nintendo might adjust their pricing strategies for the upcoming technology, such as the Nintendo Switch 2, to offset additional production costs.
- The preorder delay for the Nintendo Switch 2, initially set for April 9, 2025, stems from the company's need to assess the potential impact of U.S. tariffs on its production and market conditions, leaving fans to wait for a new preorder timeline.
- The polarizing tariffs enacted by the U.S. administration have substantial implications for tech manufacturers with hardware assembly bases in countries like Cambodia and Vietnam, potentially driving up costs for technological products like the Nintendo Switch 2.
- As Nintendo has committed to ensuring a sufficient supply of the Switch 2 to prevent scalping issues, the main question now revolves around the company's strategy to accommodate potentially higher production costs due to tariffs without impacting consumer affordability.
