Switch 2 Preorders Set for April 24, But Nintendo Warns of Price Hikes

(Credit: Nintendo)

Mark your calendars for next Thursday, April 24. Nintendo will finally begin taking preorders for the Switch 2 after delaying them over tariff-related uncertainty.

Good news for gamers: The handheld console will still be $449.99. Some wondered whether Nintendo would raise prices in the wake of President Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" on Vietnam, Cambodia, and China, where the Switch hardware is manufactured.

In addition, the company says, "The Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle will remain as announced at $499.99. Pricing for both physical and digital versions of Mario Kart World ($79.99) and Donkey Kong Bananza ($69.99) will also remain unchanged at launch."

However, Nintendo is preparing to increase prices for Switch 2 accessories, citing “changes in market conditions,” a sign that Trump’s tariffs will have some impact on the console. "Other adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are also possible in the future, depending on market conditions,” the company adds.

Nintendo's updated list shows the Joy-Con 2 controllers will cost $94.99, up from $89.99 when the accessories were first announced. The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller and Nintendo Switch 2 Camera also receive a $5 price increase to $84.99 and $54.99, respectively. The Switch 2 Dock will land at $119.99, up from $109.99.

Though Trump delayed reciprocal tariffs on Vietnam and Cambodia for 90 days earlier this month, he still imposed a 10% tariff on both countries. Chinese imports, meanwhile, currently face a 145% tariff, which includes video game consoles.

Best Buy and GameStop confirm that they will offer Switch 2 preorders beginning April 24. Nintendo's press release doesn't mention the invite system that favors longtime fans, but the page to sign up for that is still live. The first invites were expected to roll out on May 8, so stay tuned.

According to Bloomberg, Nintendo has built up a stockpile of Switch 2 consoles in the US to head off the tariffs. However, pricing could swing depending on whether Trump escalates his trade war or countries reach trade deals with the US.

About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

My Experience

I've been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I'm currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country's technology sector.

Since 2020, I've covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I've combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink's cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I'm now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I'm always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

The Best Tech I've Had:

My first video game console: a Nintendo Famicom
I loved my Sega Saturn despite PlayStation's popularity.
The iPod Video I received as a gift in college
Xbox 360 FTW
The Galaxy Nexus was the first smartphone I was proud to own.
The PC desktop I built in 2013, which still works to this day.

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