You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here
The Nintendo Switch 2 price reveal of $450 took many for a loop last week. Announced after an hour-long Nintendo Direct that showed off specs, new games and features like GameChat, many believed the $450 pricetag was a bit steep, especially when paired with the price of first-party game releases.
Following the Direct, Nintendo announced an unspecified delay for Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the United States due to new tariffs. With products coming out of Japan slapped with a 24% tariff rate, Vietnam hit with a 46% tariff rate and China hit with a 54% tariff rate, the price of Switch 2 could be hugely affected for US gamers.
Nintendo Switch 2 price didn’t account for tariffs
Speaking to The Verge (paywalled), Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser confirmed that the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 console was determined prior to the tariffs announcement by the White House. Bowser—not that one—confirmed that the price was determined due to the cost of the hardware inside the machine including its custom Nvidia SoC, more advanced joy-cons, a much-improved screen and more.
“Put [the April 2nd announcement] aside. Any previous tariffs were not factored into the price itself,” Bowser said. “The news is fresh, and like many companies right now, we are actively assessing what the impact may be.”
The Nintendo of America boss confirmed that the original Switch won’t be disappearing because of its successor’s release. Similar to the original Wii when the Wii U released, or the 3DS when the Switch released, Nintendo will continue to sell the original console-handheld hybrid.
“You want to consider pricing relative to the Switch since we still have that in distribution,” Bowser said. “But, really, the consideration was driven more by what is a part of this particular gaming experience versus what it is relative to the Switch 1.”
Over the past decade, Nintendo has been diversifying its production away from just China, likely in response to America’s anti-China sentiment during the first Trump administration in 2016. During this period, Nintendo has moved a large amount of hardware production to Vietnam and Cambodia, two countries that have also been smashed by massive tariffs.
With politicians from all regions attempting to get America to reverse or heavily reduce the rate of tariffs, it may be a while until we see a revised price for the Nintendo Switch 2.
For more Switch 2 coverage, read about how powerful the new handheld really is. Additionally, read about the device’s DLSS and ray-tracing support that Nintendo didn’t discuss during the console’s reveal.
About the Author
