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Why Trump’s Tariffs Probably Won’t Cause an Immediate Switch 2 Price Bump

Nintendo kept the Switch 2 at $449.99 and the Mario Kart World bundle at $499.99 after its April 2025 pre-order delay. Here is what that shows about tariffs, and what it does not.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Nintendo kept the Switch 2 at its announced U.S. launch price of $449.99, and the Mario Kart World bundle at $499.99, in its April 18, 2025 statement. It had delayed U.S. retail pre-orders to assess tariffs and changing market conditions, and then held those prices anyway. So tariffs did not produce an immediate launch-price increase.

That conclusion is narrower than it sounds. It describes one pricing decision made in spring 2025. It does not show that tariffs cost Nintendo nothing, and it does not promise the console will never cost more. This article is written in October 2026, so it covers the launch-period statements only and does not establish what the Switch 2 costs today.

What Nintendo announced in April 2025

Nintendo’s April 2 announcement set the launch date, system details and prices. Its April 18 statement then confirmed how those prices would hold after the U.S. pre-order delay. The table below lists the U.S. suggested retail prices Nintendo announced for the June 5, 2025 launch.

Product Announced U.S. price What the price refers to
Nintendo Switch 2 (console) $449.99 Launch suggested retail price, confirmed April 18, 2025 after the pre-order delay
Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle $499.99 Launch suggested retail price, confirmed April 18, 2025
Mario Kart World $79.99 Launch price for physical and digital versions
Donkey Kong Bananza $69.99 Launch price for physical and digital versions

These are historical announced prices. They are not verified current store listings, and they are not the prices a retailer may be charging in 2026.

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#1 Best Overall
Nintendo Switch 2 System
  • The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
  • One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
  • Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
  • Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
  • GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play

Nintendo’s April 18 statement reads, in part: “At launch, the price for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will remain as announced on April 2 at $449.99, and the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle will remain as announced at $499.99.” The statement comes from Nintendo as a company, not from a named executive.

The hardware specifications Nintendo published in April 2025 include a 7.9-inch built-in LCD at 1080p and 256 GB of internal storage. Nintendo says additional storage is supported through microSD Express cards.

What the price hold did and did not cover

The hold was not a blanket freeze on Nintendo pricing. Several points in the April 18 statement limit how far it can be read:

  • Consoles and bundle: held at the announced prices for the U.S. launch.
  • Accessories: Nintendo said Switch 2 accessories “will experience price adjustments from those announced on April 2 due to changes in market conditions.” The statement does not give replacement accessory prices.
  • Other Nintendo products: Nintendo said future price changes to its products remained possible.
  • Tariff cost: Nintendo did not quantify tariff costs, say what share of any cost it absorbed, or describe its margin impact.
  • Future price: no Nintendo statement or other source cited here says tariffs had zero effect on Switch 2 pricing or that the console’s price will never rise.

A price that held at launch therefore tells you what Nintendo chose to charge at that point. It does not tell you what the hardware cost Nintendo to import, or whether that cost was passed on later.

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Rank #2
Nintendo Switch 2 System with Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Bundle
  • The next evolution of the Nintendo Switch system
  • One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
  • Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
  • Supports up to 4K resolution** when using a compatible game and TV connected via the included Nintendo Switch 2 dock
  • Nintendo Switch 2 plays compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games.***

The tariff backdrop has moved since launch

Tariff policy kept changing after the April 2025 announcement. The U.S. Trade Representative’s action index lists tariff actions through 2026, including one titled “Ending Certain Tariff Actions” dated February 20, 2026. The index is a broad record of policy actions. It does not say which tariff rate applies to a particular Switch 2 shipment.

Nothing in Nintendo’s announcements or in the independent reporting cited here traces the country of origin or tariff classification of individual Switch 2 units. Without that information, you cannot work out the duty on any one console from its price, and you cannot attribute a specific price move to a specific tariff.

What Nintendo executives and industry analysts said

In an April 3, 2025 interview with The Verge, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said: “The news is fresh, and like many companies right now, we are actively assessing what the impact may be.” Nintendo Life reported the comment as a secondary account of that interview, so treat the wording as reported rather than as a transcript.

AP’s coverage of the launch included comments from games industry researcher Joost van Dreunen on pressure on console margins. That is independent expert analysis of the industry, not a disclosure of Nintendo’s actual costs or pricing plan.

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Rank #3
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle with Bonus HDMI Cable & Screen Cleaning Cloth
  • 【Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2 Bundle – Ready to Play】Includes the complete Nintendo Switch 2 console and a full-game download of Mario Kart World, so you can start racing right out of the box. Perfect for gamers of all ages and playstyles.
  • 【Next-Gen Hybrid Gaming with Stunning Visuals】Experience a vivid 7.9‑inch 1080p LCD touchscreen with HDR support, and enjoy 4K TV output at up to 60 fps when docked — for immersive gameplay at home or on the go.
  • 【Versatile 3 Play Modes】Seamlessly switch between Handheld, Tabletop, and TV modes — all featuring intuitive controls and smooth performance, wherever you choose to play.
  • 【Enhanced Social Gaming with GameChat & Multiplayer】Connect with friends locally, enjoy online multiplayer with up to 24 players, and use voice chat via GameChat (internet connection and Nintendo Switch Online membership required after trial period).
  • 【Powerful Storage & Joy‑Con 2 Controllers】Includes 256 GB internal storage (expandable with microSD), magnetic Joy‑Con 2 controllers, docking station, HDMI cable, AC adapter, grip, and straps — everything you need for the ultimate gaming setup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

How to judge a future price change

If you see a Switch 2 price change after this article, check these points before attributing it to tariffs:

  1. Compare it with the April 2025 reference prices: $449.99 for the console and $499.99 for the bundle.
  2. Confirm whether it is a change to Nintendo’s suggested retail price, a temporary retailer discount, or a change in what the listing includes.
  3. Check whether Nintendo or a retailer gave a reason. A stated reason is still not a cost breakdown.
  4. Check the date and scope of any tariff action that is cited, and whether it covers the product category in question.

Checking the price as of October 2026

The April 2025 figures are the last Nintendo prices confirmed in the material used for this article. Current U.S. suggested retail prices, retailer stock and whether a given listing is the console alone or the bundle are not verified here. Check Nintendo’s U.S. store and the major retailers you use, and confirm the listing contents before comparing any price with the April 2025 figures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Switch 2’s 256 GB of storage mean I can skip an expansion card?

The 256 GB figure is the internal capacity Nintendo listed in April 2025. Nintendo says additional storage is supported through microSD Express cards. This article does not cover which card capacities are available or what they cost.

Quick Recap

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The next evolution of Nintendo Switch; One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
$499.00
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Nintendo Switch 2 System with Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Bundle
Nintendo Switch 2 System with Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Bundle
The next evolution of the Nintendo Switch system; One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
$568.00

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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