The wait is finally over for gaming fans as Nintendo has officially announced that preorders for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 will begin on April 24, 2025. This comes after an unexpected delay from the original preorder date of April 9, which was caused by recent changes in U.S. import tariffs.

The company wanted to carefully assess how these new taxes would affect the final pricing before allowing customers to place their orders. Despite the delay, the good news is that the console’s price remains unchanged at $449.99, the same amount Nintendo revealed earlier this month.

The delay was primarily due to new tariff policies introduced by former President Donald Trump, which significantly increased taxes on electronics imported from China and Vietnam.

Since Nintendo manufactures its consoles in these countries, the company needed time to evaluate the financial impact. The tariff rate on Chinese goods has skyrocketed to 145%, while the rate for Vietnamese products was temporarily reduced from 46% to 10% to allow for trade negotiations. Nintendo addressed the delay in a statement, saying, “We apologize for the retail pre-order delay, and hope this reduces some of the uncertainty our consumers may be experiencing.

We thank our customers for their patience, and we share their excitement to experience Nintendo Switch 2 starting June 5, 2025.”

While the console itself will maintain its original price, some accessories will see slight increases. For example, the dock set will now cost 10more,thecontrollerstrapwillbe10more,thecontrollerstrapwillbe1 more expensive, and most other accessories will see a $5 price hike. Nintendo also mentioned that further price adjustments could happen in the future depending on how tariffs and production costs evolve. This means that gamers who want to avoid paying extra should consider purchasing their accessories sooner rather than later.

In addition to the standard console, Nintendo is offering a special “Mario Kart World” bundle priced at 499.99.Thedigitalversionof“MarioKartWorld”willcost499.99.Thedigitalversionof“MarioKartWorld”willcost79.99, while “Donkey Kong Bananza” will be available for $69.99. These prices have remained stable despite the tariff changes, which is a relief for fans who were worried about potential price surges.

Retailers like Best Buy have confirmed they will start accepting preorders on April 24, with many stores planning to open at midnight on the official launch day, June 5, to accommodate eager customers.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to bring significant upgrades over its predecessor, including improved graphics, faster loading times, and exclusive new games. Early hands-on experiences at events like the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience in London have generated a lot of excitement, with players praising the console’s enhanced performance.

Given Nintendo’s history of product shortages, fans are encouraged to preorder as soon as possible to avoid missing out on the initial stock. With its powerful hardware and exciting game lineup, the Switch 2 is poised to be one of the biggest gaming releases of the year.