Nintendo has announced that retail preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 will begin on April 24, with a price of US$449.99 in the US.

The console was originally set for preorder on April 9 but was delayed due to potential impacts from new tariffs.

These include a 145% rate on goods from China and a 10% rate on goods from Vietnam. Nintendo’s previous consoles were made in both countries.

The Switch 2 will officially launch on June 5, 2025.

A bundle with “Mario Kart World” will cost US$499.99. Standalone digital versions of “Mario Kart World” and “Donkey Kong Bananza” will be priced at US$79.99 and US$69.99.

🔗 Source: CNBC

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Nintendo’s pricing strategy marks a significant departure from historical patterns

The Switch 2’s $449.99 price point represents Nintendo’s most expensive console launch ever, substantially higher than the original Switch’s $299.99 debut in 2017 1.

This pricing shift reflects a broader evolution in Nintendo’s market positioning, moving away from their traditional value-focused approach seen with the Wii ($249.99) and original Switch 2.

Nintendo’s decision to maintain the initially announced price despite tariff pressures contrasts with their accessories strategy, where they’re implementing increases of $1-10 per item to offset costs 3.

This pricing approach represents a calculated risk based on Nintendo’s historical data that console adoption drives their ecosystem growth, while accessory purchases typically come from already-committed customers less sensitive to price increases.

The company appears to be protecting their crucial entry point price to maximize initial adoption, learning from the Wii U’s struggles where its $349.99 launch price contributed to disappointing lifetime sales of only 13.4 million units compared to the Wii’s 101.6 million 4.

2️⃣ Tariffs are reshaping gaming hardware economics and supply chains

The 145% tariff on Chinese electronics is creating significant challenges for the gaming industry, with analysts projecting consumer spending could decline by 10-40% as hardware prices rise 5.

Nintendo’s two-week delay in opening pre-orders illustrates how companies are struggling to navigate the rapidly changing trade landscape, forcing them to reconsider manufacturing locations and pricing strategies 6.

Recent Nintendo developments