Nintendo pulls Switch 2 pre-orders in US over Trump tariffs

Nintendo says it will no longer open pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the United States next week, following the introduction of steep tariffs on exports from Japan.

The firm unveiled the much-anticipated console on Wednesday, the same day US President Donald Trump announced his sweeping new global tariffs.

It said then that US pre-orders would open in a matter of days, but it has been now been forced to revise its plans.

"Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the US will not start April 9 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions," it said in a statement.

It says it still intends to launch the console on June 5, as originally planned.

Nintendo confirmed the announcement applies to the US market only, so UK pre-orders will not be affected.

Tariffs are taxes charged on goods imported from other countries.

Japan, where the gaming company is based, has been hit with a 24% tariff - a cost which the firm must swallow or pass onto consumers.

Trump says that his global tariffs will boost the US economy and protect jobs - but Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called them a "national crisis" on Friday according to local media.

"The government will do its utmost to respond to this crisis, involving the entire country," he said.

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The decision may raise concerns amongst fans that Nintendo could be considering a change in prices in the US.

The cost of the console's games has already emerged as an area of concern.

On Wednesday, it revealed the Switch 2 would cost $449.99 in the US, with a physical copy of its big game Mario Kart World coming in at $79.99 - though it can be purchased for less if bought with the console.

It is not known whether Nintendo factored potential tariffs into its original pricing - though, even if it did, it is unlikely it would have expected the rate to be as high as the 24% announced by Trump.