Summary
The price of theNintendo Switch 2for buyers in the United States is not as set in stone as it once appeared to be, as tariffs continue to place uncertainty over the upcoming console’s release. The company’s president has recently commented on the pricing of theNintendo Switch 2for U.S.-based customers, who may potentially have to pay more for it than expected.
After many long months of rumors and speculation, thereveal of the Nintendo Switch 2in early April confirmed a broad catalog of first and third-party games and some nice new features, including Joy-Cons that affix to the console’s base through magnetic connections and possess mouse-like capabilities. Initial reports showed that the console itself would be available for $449.99, or bundled together withMario Kart Worldfor $499.99.
But recent comments from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa are once again throwing those figures into question. As reported byYahoo Japan, Furukawa indicated at a recent press conference that he is mindful of how U.S. presidentDonald Trump’s tariffs could affect Japanese video game companies, and that any changes to those tariffs may affect the future price points offered in the U.S. market. “If the premise of tariffs changes significantly, we will consider and implement what kind of price adjustment will be made after taking into account multiple aspects,” a translation of one of his comments states.
Nintendo Cautiosly Eyeing Higher Switch 2 Prices in the United States
At the console’s reveal, there had been serious concerns about how it would be priced in the United States. These concerns were tied to thepre-order delay of the Switch 2, which only affected the United States as well as Canada. Soon after the console’s reveal, Nintendo announced that while it would open pre-order sales to most of the world on April 9, that offer would not be valid for customers in the two countries due to “evolving market conditions” that were largely influenced by the global tariffs enacted by Trump. Ultimately, Nintendo opened up U.S. and Canadian pre-order sales for the console and its first-party games and accessories on April 24, more than two weeks after the rest of the world got its first shot.
Despite Trump’s promise of working on trade deals with several countries,The Japan Timesreports that negotiations with Japan were at a standstill as of April 7, with tariff czar Ryosei Akazawa stating that no negotiations can occur without the Trump administration addressing the current tariffs on the country. Furukawa seems to be proceeding cautiously regarding potential price increases, acknowledging that higher prices coupled with projections of higher cost of living in the United States could hurt sales in that market. Meanwhile, the latest round ofSwitch 2 pre-orders has sold out almost instantly, reflecting a high demand for Nintendo’s product.
