As wider economic circumstances continue to change, a new report suggests that Nintendo could take advantage of an opportunity to increase shipments of theNintendo Switch 2from Vietnam to the United States. Following the full showcase of the Switch 2 on April 2, news regarding pricing and uncertainty surrounding the implementation of tariffs have already posed significant issues for the system, but as the economic circumstances surrounding the Switch 2 continue to change, Nintendo might be able to avoid the worst-case scenario.
As reported byBloomberg, a 90-day pause on tariffs recently imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump could give Nintendo a valuable window toship more Switch 2 systems to the U.S. from Vietnam, and potentially avoid raising the price. However, althoughBloombergcites data regarding massively increased shipments from Switch 2 manufacturer Hosiden Corp. to the U.S. for January and February,the report is not explicit confirmation of any planson the part of Nintendo in relation to the paused tariffs.
The Tariff Pause Gives Nintendo Some Room For The Switch 2 Launch
A 90-Day Pause On Tariffs May Help Nintendo Avoid Raising The Switch 2’s Price
Regardless of how Nintendo is planning to handle Switch 2 distribution leading up to its release on June 5,the tariff pause should significantly improve the odds of a (relatively) smooth launch— especially with regard to a potential price hike. According to analyst Robin Zhu, as cited byBloomberg, the universal 10% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration carry a much lower risk of Nintendo raising the price from the current MSRP of $449.99 USD, whereas the paused 46% tariffs on Vietnam could have been expected to increase it by “$50 to $100.”
Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Games Don’t Do Enough To Justify Paying For The Upgrade
The high price for Switch 2 edition games fail to justify paying for, even with the multitude of benefits they offer to older Switch titles.
With many potential buyers alreadyoutraged by Switch 2 prices, especially the $79.99 USD price ofMario Kart World,increasing the cost of the console itself would be a disaster for Nintendoin terms of PR, with the potential to significantly impact the system’s sales in the United States and Canada. So far,Nintendo has cited economic factors like inflationas the reasoning for the Switch 2’s raised prices. While it’s unlikely that the prices will be lowered, paused tariffs will likely help Nintendo in keeping the price from going any higher.
The Switch 2 Launch Is Messy On Many Fronts
High Pricing And Delays Have Lowered The Hype For The Switch 2
Far from the guaranteed success that anyone might have expected from the successor to the Nintendo Switch,the lead-up to the Switch 2’s launch has been plagued with several issues, ranging from poor optics to delays. The tariffs proposed by the U.S., for example, resulted in Nintendo delaying pre-orders for the system in the U.S. andeventually in Canada as well, postponed from April 9 to a date that has yet to be decided. Unrelated to tariffs, it’s also been announced that the console won’t be launching in China (perGameSpot) as Nintendo assesses potential demand.
Though the lack of release for the Switch 2 in China is notable, it is following the example already set by the original Switch, which received a delayed release in the region in 2019.
Other issues, like the$10 price tag of theNintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tourand paid upgrades for Switch 2 versions of Switch games, have also played a significant part in dampening excitement for the Switch 2’s launch. While the console will, in all likelihood, still prove to be successful, it’s looking less likely that it will manage to be a repeat of the original Switch’s success, even with paused tariffs helping theNintendo Switch 2avoid a potential price hike.
