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Potential Increase in Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Price: A Look at the Past Events

Rumored Nintendo Switch 2 Pricing at $449 May Not Stay Constant Prior to Launch

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Rumored Pricing for Nintendo Switch 2 May Vary Before Release, Initially Suggested at $449
Rumored Pricing for Nintendo Switch 2 May Vary Before Release, Initially Suggested at $449

Potential Increase in Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Price: A Look at the Past Events

Time to ride the Switch 2 rollercoaster:

Things have been a wild ride for Nintendo this week. On Wednesday, Nintendo held its shindig for the Nintendo Switch 2, showing off the upcoming glow-up of their console and the games.

But that same day, President Trump dropped a bombshell - he was putting new tariffs on countries like Japan (where Nintendo headquarters) and Vietnam (where the Switch 2 is rumored to be getting built). This stirred up some trouble on Friday, when Nintendo surprised everyone by putting the brakes on U.S. pre-orders for the Switch 2. Originally slated for April 9, the pre-orders are now on hold to evaluate the potential impact of those tariffs and the ever-shifting market conditions.

Don't worry, though, the Switch 2's launch date remains steady on June 5. But with concerns about a costlier console, fans might be a little skittish.

So, what'll the Switch 2 set you back?

During the live stream, Nintendo announced the cost for the Switch 2. The console will start at $449, while a bundle with Mario Kart World will come in at $499. But just when you thought you'd planned your next paycheck, these prices were higher than the launch prices of previous Nintendo consoles, causing some surprise. And Mario Kart World is set to retail for $79, which is $10 more than new game releases, adding fuel to worries about game costs.

As for tariffs affecting the Switch 2, the picture isn't perfectly clear yet. With the current tariff percentages standing at 24% for Japan and 46% for Vietnam, there's a chance these costs could get passed on to the consumer. But Nintendo's currently manufacturing the console in Vietnam, and may be using parts from other countries like China, so it's tricky to predict the exact impact.

Keep your eyes on the prize!

Backup may be on the horizon, though. Vietnam is reportedly trying to chat with Trump about reducing their tariffs to zero, per a Wall Street Journal report. Companies like Nintendo, Apple, and Nike have already moved operations to Vietnam to avoid situations like these tariffs, so it's good news if the tariffs look like they could go down.

Another bright spot for Nintendo fans is that the company already shipped around 300,000 Switch 2 consoles in January, as reported by the Financial Times. They may have done this strategically to beat potential tariffs at launch, but we'll have to wait and see.

Enrichment data:- The Switch 2's base price is set at $450 in the United States, with Mario Kart World bundle going for $500[1].- In UK, the base console costs £395.99, while the bundle with Mario Kart World retail for £429.99[2].- Tariffs in the U.S. pose a concern as they could affect the price of imported goods from Asian production centers, but specific details on how tariffs on Japan and Vietnam could impact the Switch 2's final price aren't provided[5].- The U.S. price remains at $450 for the base model, but tariff adjustments could lead to price changes[3][5].

[1] Los Angeles Times. (2025, March 31). 'Nintendo Switch 2': Price, release date, and features (revealed!). Accessed April 6, 2025. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-03-31/nintendo-switch-2-price-features-release-date

[2] The Guardian. (2025, April 5). Nintendo Switch 2 price and release date: confirmed price, UK price, and retailers. Accessed April 6, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/apr/05/nintendo-switch-2-price-release-date-uk-price-retailers

[3] Polygon. (2025, April 6). Nintendo Switch 2 price explains the higher cost of the next-gen console. Accessed April 6, 2025. https://www.polygon.com/platform/amp/nintendo-switch/23009405/nintendo-switch-2-price-cost

[4] New York Times. (2025, April 5). Why Trump's tariffs are bad for old-school console gaming. Accessed April 6, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/business/nintendo-trump-tariffs.html

[5] Financial Times. (2025, February 10). Nintendo braces for hit to profit from U.S. tariffs as it looks to Vietnam for flexibility. Accessed April 6, 2025. https://www.ft.com/content/8e58b35e-4158-4acb-a37c-c86f5a423651

  1. The base price for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the United States is set at $450, with a bundle featuring Mario Kart World priced at $500.
  2. In the UK, the base console costs £395.99, and the bundle with Mario Kart World retails for £429.99.
  3. The higher price of the Nintendo Switch 2 compared to previous Nintendo consoles is causing surprise among fans.
  4. Mario Kart World is set to retail for £79, £10 more than new game releases, fueling concerns about increasing game costs.
  5. With tariffs in the U.S. at 24% for Japan and 46% for Vietnam, there's a possibility these costs could be passed on to consumers.
  6. However, Nintendo is currently manufacturing the Switch 2 in Vietnam, and may be using parts from other countries like China, making it hard to predict the exact impact of tariffs.
  7. There are signs of hope for Nintendo fans, as Vietnam is reportedly in discussions with Trump to potentially reduce tariffs to zero. If successful, this could help lower the cost of the Nintendo Switch 2 and other gadgets.

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