Nintendo has just shared some exciting news: pre-orders for the much-anticipated Switch 2 will kick off in the United States on April 24. Enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the pricing remains steady, with the console priced at $449.99. There’s also a special bundle featuring Mario Kart World available for $499.99.
The delay in opening pre-orders in the U.S. initially took fans by surprise. Nintendo put it down to needing a bit of extra time “to assess the potential implications of tariffs and changing market conditions.”
Alongside the console, some accessory prices are climbing. The Joy-Con 2 controllers, initially set at $89.99, have now inched up to $94.99. The Pro Controller isn’t escaping the hike either, with a small bump from $79.99 to $84.99. Other accessories like the Switch 2 camera, dock set, wheel set, and charging grips will also see price increases.
Nintendo hinted that these aren’t the only adjustments we might see. They’ve mentioned that “other adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are also possible in the future,” depending on how the market behaves.
Mark your calendars for the big release: the Switch 2 is slated to launch on June 5. Originally, pre-orders were supposed to be available from April 9. Still, they faced a setback when the system was announced on the same day President Donald Trump introduced a series of tariffs. Notably, Trump did call for a 90-day pause on many tariffs, except those affecting Chinese goods.
Luckily, there’s no need to worry about price changes for some of Nintendo’s popular titles. Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Banaza, the latter set to release on July 17, will remain at $79.99 and $69.99, respectively.
In terms of features, the Switch 2 is a significant upgrade from its predecessor. It boasts a larger display with HDR support, an extra USB Type-C port, and an Nividia-powered enhanced graphics chip.
Sure, the $449.99 price is a jump from the initial $299.99 of the first Nintendo Switch, prompting some fans to appeal for a price drop. However, Nintendo issued an apology for the pre-order delay and expressed hope that this resolution would ease any uncertainty customers might be feeling.
