Los Angeles, California – If you’ve been eagerly anticipating the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch 2, you may have to exercise a bit more patience if you’re in the United States or Canada. Pre-orders for the highly-awaited console have been indefinitely delayed in response to new tariffs announced by President Donald Trump. While individuals in the U.K. have the opportunity to pre-order the Switch 2, Americans and Canadians will need to wait for a chance to secure their own.
The company’s decision to postpone the pre-orders was confirmed by Walmart of Canada and supported by reports from MobileSyrup. Nintendo announced that pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the U.S. will not commence on April 9, 2025, citing the need to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Despite the delay in pre-orders, the official launch date of June 5, 2025, remains unchanged.
Before the delay, Nintendo had set the pre-order date for North America on April 9, with a planned availability date of June 5. The original starting price of $450 may be subject to change due to the impact of proposed tariffs. Once pre-orders are available, retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart, and others will offer the Switch 2 for purchase.
To pre-order directly from Nintendo, individuals must be 18 years or older, have a Nintendo account, and express their interest in pre-ordering. An invitation email will be sent at the appropriate time, valid for 72 hours. Priority will be given to registrants who have a Nintendo Switch Online membership with a minimum of 12 months of paid membership and at least 50 total gameplay hours as of April 2, 2025.
The Nintendo Switch 2 boasts new features, including detachable Joy-Cons’ upgrades, such as a new C button, mouse controls, and a built-in gyroscope. The console features a larger 7.9-inch LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR, and 1080p resolution. While docked, users can enjoy gameplay at up to 4K resolution on the TV, accompanied by enhanced internal speakers and a built-in fan in the dock for cooling during extended play sessions.
Additional accessories for the Switch 2, such as a camera, Pro controller, Joy-Con controllers, and charging grip, will be available for separate purchase. However, pricing for these accessories may be subject to change due to uncertainties surrounding tariffs. Despite the delay in pre-orders, Nintendo enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the innovative features and enhancements offered by the upcoming Switch 2 release.