Nintendo Switch 2’s tariff impact is the latest curveball the gaming giant didn’t see coming.
President Donald Trump’s newly imposed tariffs on imports from China, Vietnam, and Cambodia – where Nintendo manufactures a huge chunk of its hardware – Nintendo is suddenly facing some serious decisions. And Doug Bowser, the head of Nintendo of America, isn’t sugarcoating it. In his own words: “It creates a challenge.”
Talking to Wired, Bowser confirmed that the company is “actively assessing” how these new costs could affect the Switch 2’s rollout in the U.S. The tariffs are no joke either: 46% on goods from Vietnam, 49% on Cambodia, and a steep 54% on imports from China. With numbers like that, it’s not just a tiny hiccup – it could change Nintendo’s entire U.S. strategy for its highly anticipated console.
Bowser said they’re now looking into “diversifying the places where we’re manufacturing our hardware and our accessories” to try and sidestep some of the extra costs. So far, no official word has come down about a price increase or production delay beyond what’s already known, but things are clearly in flux behind the scenes.
Interestingly, even though these new tariffs are a big deal, Bowser claimed the current $449.99 price tag for the Switch 2 hasn’t been impacted by earlier tariffs. That’s some good news – for now. But with all this uncertainty, there’s no guarantee that pricing won’t be adjusted later down the road.
Bowser also told The Verge the price was set based on the console’s “redesigned hardware” and Nintendo’s goal of giving the new system some serious shelf life. They’re hoping buyers see the Switch 2 as more than just a next-gen console – it’s meant to be a full-on entertainment device that sticks with you for years.
Still, with U.S. pre-orders already delayed following Trump’s tariff announcement on April 2, the drama around the Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t cooling off anytime soon. And fans are left wondering whether they’ll be paying more, waiting longer, or both.
Think Nintendo will shift production to dodge the tariffs? Or will we all end up paying more for the Switch 2? Drop your thoughts below and stay tuned for all the latest updates from the gaming world.
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