Why are Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders delayed in the United States?

Pre-orders for the highly-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 went live around the world on April 9, except for fans in the United States.

In early April, Nintendo showcased its newest console — the Switch 2 — which is set to release on June 5, featuring an open world Mario Kart game titled Mario Kart World among other first-party games. The Nintendo Switch, which released in 2017, is one of the best-selling video game consoles of all time and the upcoming release of the Switch 2 promises upgraded hardware, better graphics, and even more Nintendo games to love.

However, a few days after Nintendo's big announcement, the Japanese company stated they would be delaying the April 9 pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the United States due to "evolving market conditions."

Here's the full statement from Nintendo, courtesy of IGN:

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. Nintendo will update timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged.

Since the start of April, President Donald Trump's latest tariff announcement has made massive waves across the United States' economy and the global market as a whole. Nintendo's Switch 2 announcement came with a $449.99 price point — higher than the Switch's $299.99 original price tag — and the revelation that Mario Kart World would be priced at $79.99, a $10 jump from modern new game release prices.

With Nintendo delaying pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the United States — and now, apparently, Canada as well — fans are wondering if the tariffs will impact the console's $449.99 price in North America. Reports suggest that the tariffs won't impact the price, but we'll have to wait and see what Nintendo announces when they release the new pre-order date for the Switch 2 in North America.

For now, despite the pre-order delay, Nintendo states that it is on track to hit the Switch 2's release date of June 5 worldwide.