Nintendo Says U.S. Tariffs Could Drive Up Switch 2 Price

Nintendo’s next-gen console, the Switch 2, is expected to launch at $450 US ($629.99 CAD) — but that price could go even higher thanks to new tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump.

In an interview with Wired, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said the recently announced tariffs were not included in the current price. “It creates a challenge,” Bowser said, adding that the company is now “actively assessing” the situation and what it could mean for pricing.

The U.S. launch of the Switch 2 just got more uncertain after Nintendo delayed preorders “to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions,” according to the report. This move came shortly after Trump revealed sweeping new trade measures that will hit tech companies especially hard.

Nintendo confirmed with iPhone in Canada its April 9 pre-order date is still on track here, however.

Among the new tariffs: 46% on goods from Vietnam, 49% on Cambodia, and 54% on China — all countries involved in Nintendo’s supply chain. While the company has already shifted a lot of its production to Vietnam and Cambodia in recent years to avoid China-related tariffs, Bowser acknowledged the latest changes caught them off guard. “The situation [on April 2] changed that,” he told Wired.

Wired notes that journalists at the Switch 2 launch event were discouraged from asking about cost, which wasn’t mentioned at first. A higher price beyond $450 US ($629.99 CAD) would reach uncharted territory for a Switch. Currently it’s priced higher than a PS5 and just under an Xbox Series X.

Nintendo fans have already push back on social media. Former Nintendo PR managers Krysta Yang and Kit Ellis called out the company’s poor messaging around pricing in a recent YouTube video, with Yang saying the lack of clarity was “almost degrading to the intelligence of the consumer.”

Beyond the console itself, game prices are also creeping up. Mario Kart World will cost $80 US (possibly $125 CAD or higher after exchange rates), and even a simple tech demo called ‘Welcome Tour’ will be a paid experience.

Bowser says Nintendo is working to make sure the Switch 2 is widely available when it launches, despite the uncertainty around pricing. In the past, shortages have plagued console launches due to chip supply issues and other disruptions. All eyes are on Nintendo now to see if the Switch 2 pricing will increase or not ahead of its launch. Click here to read how to pre-order your Switch 2 this week.