Switch 2 Pre-Orders Hit Pause in the US — Thanks, Tariffs!

Just when you thought nothing could stop the hype train for Nintendo’s Switch 2, a very real-world mechanic showed up: tariffs. And like any good boss battle, it’s unexpected, kind of annoying, and makes you question why you didn’t stock up on potions—or in this case, patience.

US-based Nintendo fans who had their alarms set for April 9 to snag a pre-order of the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 will now have to wait a bit longer. In a move that nobody asked for but everyone has to deal with, Nintendo has officially delayed US pre-orders, citing concerns over tariffs and “evolving market conditions.” To translate that into gamer-speak: real-world politics just nerfed your shopping cart.

So… What Happened?

Earlier this week, the U.S. government introduced a batch of sweeping trade tariffs, which, in very simplified terms, are like placing a tax on imported goods from certain countries. Unfortunately for us and our collective gamer wallets, the countries being targeted are kind of essential to the video game hardware industry—like Japan, Vietnam, and China.

And guess what? That’s where Nintendo manufactures a chunk of its consoles, components, and possibly those snazzy new Joy-Con 2s.

Nintendo issued a statement saying the delay was to “assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.” Translation: They’re crunching numbers harder than a speedrunner in a Breath of the Wild glitch run to figure out how this impacts costs, pricing, and pre-order logistics.

But here’s the silver lining (yes, there is one): The Switch 2’s US release date of June 5 still stands. So if you were worried this delay meant the launch was getting pushed—breathe easy. Your Zelda-on-day-one dreams are still alive.

What Could This Mean for Pricing?

According to industry analyst Daniel Ahmad (aka one of gaming Twitter’s most informed tea-spillers), Nintendo has already shifted some manufacturing to Vietnam to soften the tariff blow from China. But that work-around may no longer be enough. The new tariffs aimed at Vietnam and Japan are reportedly even higher than expected.

So, what does that mean? Well, two possibilities:

1. Switch 2 might cost more in the US than expected.
2. Or Nintendo eats the cost (unlikely), and we keep the same pricing while Nintendo silently cries into their rupee-stuffed treasure chests.

While Nintendo hasn’t made any official announcements regarding a price hike, this delay suggests they’re not ruling it out. Which is fair—after all, it’s not just about selling consoles anymore; it’s about not bleeding rupees before launch day.

Meanwhile, In Other Parts of the World…

While US gamers are stuck in pre-order limbo, the rest of the world is out here placing Switch 2 orders like it’s Black Friday on steroids. In Canada, Walmart Gaming’s social media team is still proudly flaunting the original April 9 pre-order date—so unless that changes, it’s full steam ahead north of the border.

And over in the UK, retailers like Argos have already kicked things off. Though, in classic UK retail fashion, they’ve already sold out. That’s right—while US fans are still refreshing Twitter, some UK folks are probably already halfway through setting up their digital Mario Kart World time trials.

Moreover, Nintendo is also working to prevent scalpers from turning Switch 2 pre-orders into their next big crypto-like hustle. On its official store, Nintendo is enforcing stricter pre-order rules, including account verification and order limitations. It’s like a mini anti-cheat system for the e-commerce battlefield. Will it work? Hopefully. At the very least, it’s a nod that Nintendo is aware of how wild the resale market got during the PS5 and Xbox Series X launches and is trying to get ahead of it this time.

Will This Delay Impact Game Availability?

Here’s the good news: Nintendo hasn’t delayed any Switch 2 launch games, at least not yet. So whether you’re excited for Mario Kart World, Split Fiction, or those Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild upgrades, the games are still on track to be available on launch day. That means even if pre-orders open later than expected, digital and in-store purchases might still be an option—assuming stock doesn’t evaporate in 30 seconds.

What’s Next?

That’s the million-coin question. Nintendo hasn’t shared a new pre-order date yet, which suggests they’re taking their time to navigate the geopolitical mess without turning this into a PR trainwreck. With E3 canceled (RIP), the next best bet for major announcements is another Nintendo Direct or an official statement, likely within the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled, your wallets ready, and maybe download a tariff tracker app (just kidding… kind of).