Nintendo recently revealed that pre-orders for their upcoming Switch 2 console are set to begin in the United States on April 24. They have maintained the pricing, starting at $449.99 for the console. Additionally, there’s a bundle option featuring Mario Kart World available for $499.99.
Initially, U.S. pre-orders were put on hold following the console’s debut as Nintendo wanted to evaluate “the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.”
Some of the accessories for the Switch 2 are going to cost a bit more than expected. For example, the Joy-Con 2 controllers, originally priced at $89.99, will now be $94.99. Meanwhile, the Pro Controller has increased from $79.99 to $84.99. Other accessories like the Switch 2 camera, dock set, wheel set, and charging grips are also seeing price hikes.
Nintendo mentioned in their announcement that there might be further price adjustments for their products, depending on future market conditions.
Despite these changes, the console’s release date remains as June 5. The pre-orders, which were initially supposed to start on April 9, were postponed as the company faced challenges after inadvertently timing their announcement with President Donald Trump’s introduction of a broad tariff policy. On April 9, Trump called for a 90-day suspension for numerous tariffs, except for some on Chinese goods.
Two major Nintendo releases, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Banaza, launching on July 17, will keep their original prices at $79.99 and $69.99, respectively.
The Switch 2 brings several enhancements over its predecessor, including a larger screen with HDR support, an additional USB Type-C port, and an upgraded Nvidia graphics chip.
Some fans have pointed out that the $449.99 price is notably higher than the original Switch, which was released at $299.99. This discrepancy has led to calls for Nintendo to lower the price. In their announcement, Nintendo apologized for the delay and expressed hope that their efforts would “reduce some of the uncertainty our customers may be experiencing.”
