Trump tariffs disrupt Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in US

Apr 4

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Kennedy Felton Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer

By Kennedy Felton (Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer), Emma Stoltzfus (Video Editor)

Due to newly imposed tariffs, Nintendo delayed U.S. pre-orders for the Switch 2, initially planned for April 9. These tariffs, which impact production in China and Vietnam, have disrupted the company’s manufacturing pipeline.
The highly anticipated console, set to launch globally on June 5 for $449.99, features upgrades like a larger screen, mouse controls, built-in chat and exclusive new titles such as “Mario Kart World.”
Online reactions to the delay have been emotional and politically charged, with gamers expressing disappointment and frustration over the economic and political factors affecting the gaming industry.

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Nintendo delayed pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. The decision comes as new tariffs under the Trump administration impact production in China and Vietnam.

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The company announced the delay shortly after revealing the Switch 2’s specs, pricing and global release date. The highly anticipated console is still set to launch June 5 and retail for $449.99.

Fans had been eagerly awaiting the release. Nintendo showcased key features of the Switch 2, including a larger screen, mouse controls and a built-in chat function. The company also announced new titles such as “Mario Kart World,” enhanced “Zelda” games and GameCube classics for online subscribers.

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However, newly imposed tariffs, 34% on goods from China and 46% on goods from Vietnam, have disrupted Nintendo’s manufacturing pipeline. Both countries serve as major production hubs for the company.

“Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025, in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions,” a spokesperson for Nintendo told CNBC.

Online reaction to Nintendo Switch 2 delay

In the meantime, the online response to the Nintendo Switch 2 delay has been loud, unfiltered and emotional.

Gamers shared everything from satire to scathing political commentary. Many expressed a sense of disappointment. Others voiced frustration about the broader economic and political factors affecting the gaming world.

Other comments online took a more aggressive tone:

“I am in, deep, vast, exquisite, unimaginable pain.”
“And then they came for the gamers! The GAMERS!”
“If you voted for him, this is your fault.”
“This guy needs to be removed from power. He’s playing and gambling on people’s livelihoods like it’s nothing.”

The comments highlight just how much political discourse has seeped into pop culture, particularly in the gaming community.

What’s next for Switch 2 pre-orders?

Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 were scheduled to begin April 9. As of now, Nintendo has not announced a new U.S. pre-order date.

However, fans in other countries can still move forward with pre-ordering the console.

Tags: China, Nintendo, Tariff, video games, Vietnam

[KENNEDY FELTON]

ONE GAMER WITH A STRONG MESSAGE – SAYING

“We’re forged by endless boss battles against impossible odds.

We do not give up.

We do not stop.

We are the terminators of the culture wars.”

WHILE THAT REACTION MIGHT SOUND extreme.. IT REFLECTS JUST HOW DEEPLY GAMERS FEEL ABOUT THEIR HOBBY.

NEWLY ANNOUNCED TARIFFS FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAVE PROMPTED NINTENDO TO PAUSE U-S PRE-ORDERS FOR ITS NEXT GEN CONSOLE – THE SWITCH 2.

AND ONLINE… THAT ANNOUNCEMENT IGNITED A MIX OF DISAPPOINTMENT… CONFUSION… AND STRONG POLITICAL OPINIONS.

WEDNESDAY – NINTENDO ANNOUNCED THE SPECS FOR THE NEW SWITCH 2… INCLUDING A JUNE 5-TH LAUNCH DATE AND A PRICE TAG OF 449-DOLLARS AND 99 CENTS.

FANS WERE EXCITED FOR NEW FEATURES LIKE A BIGGER SCREEN… FASTER DEVICE… MOUSE CONTROLS AND BUILT IN CHAT.

ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PRICE – A MARIO KART WORLD BUNDLE. AN UPGRADED ZELDA RELEASE WILL BECOME AVAILABLE ONLY ON THE SWITCH TWO AND CLASSIC GAMECUBE FAVORITES THROUGH NINTENDO ONLINE.

THAT EXCITEMENT WAS SHORT-LIVED, HOWEVER, AFTER IT WAS REVEALED NEW GAMES LIKE MARIO KART WORLD WILL COST UP TO $90. AND NOW… THAT PRICE MAY BE GOING EVEN HIGHER.

BUT A 34-PERCENT TARIFF ON GOODS FROM CHINA – AND A 46-PERCENT DUTY ON PRODUCTS FROM VIETNAM – HAS DISRUPTED NINTENDOS PRODUCTION PIPELINE.

BOTH COUNTRIES ARE MAJOR MANUFACTURING HUBS FOR THE COMPANY.. THOUGH NINTENDO HASN’T SPECIFIED WHERE EXACTLY THE SWITCH 2 WILL BE MADE.

A SPOKESPERSON *FOR NINTENDO TELLS C-N-B-C…“Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.”

IN THE MEANTIME.. ONLINE – THE REACTION HAS BEEN LOUD… UNFILTERED… AND EMOTIONAL.

IN COMMENT SECTIONS.. GAMERS SHARED EVERYTHING FROM SATIRE TO SCATHING POLITICAL TAKES.

MANY EXPRESSING A SENSE OF LOSS… AND OTHERS – A DEEP FRUSTRATION WITH WHO THEY BLAME FOR THE DELAY.

ONE REDDIT USER – WHO SUPPORTS TRUMP – SAID HE BELIEVES IF HE HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH THE PRESIDENT… HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PERSUADE HIM TO RECONSIDER TARIFFS ON VIDEO GAMES.

PRE-ORDERS WERE SLATED TO BEGIN APRIL 9-TH.

NINTENDO HASN’T GIVEN A NEW DATE FOR THE U-S… BUT PRE-ORDERS IN OTHER REGIONS ARE STILL MOVING FORWARD AS PLANNED.

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