Excitement is building as Nintendo announced today that pre-orders for the Switch 2 will kick off in the United States on April 24. The eagerly anticipated console will maintain its pricing structure from the original announcement, with the base model at $449.99. For those interested in more gaming goodness, a bundle option featuring Mario Kart World is available for $499.99.
Originally, there was a hold-up for American pre-orders because Nintendo wanted to evaluate how tariffs and market fluctuations might affect the release. Consequently, accessories for the Switch 2 will see a slight price increase. The new Joy-Con 2 controllers, which were initially priced at $89.99, will now retail for $94.99. Similarly, the Pro Controller will see a bump from $79.99 to $84.99. Additional accessories like the camera, dock set, wheel set, and charging grips are also getting price hikes.
Nintendo has indicated that more price adjustments could occur based on market conditions, keeping fans on their toes. The company plans to launch the console on June 5.
The initial pre-order date was set for April 9 but was postponed. This change was due to the timing of the announcement, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s decision to introduce new tariffs. Trump later paused several of these tariffs for 90 days, with the exception of Chinese imports.
The good news for gamers is that upcoming titles such as Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza will stick to their original prices – $79.99 and $69.99, respectively. Donkey Kong is set to swing into the market on July 17.
The Switch 2 itself promises a host of improvements over its predecessor. Gamers can expect a larger, HDR-supported display, an additional USB Type-C port, and a more powerful graphics chip courtesy of Nvidia.
While some fans are calling for a price reduction, especially since the original Switch launched at $299.99, Nintendo remains firm on its pricing strategy. They issued an apology for the pre-order delay and expressed hope that these steps will alleviate some concerns their customers might have.
For avid gamers and Nintendo aficionados, the wait is almost over, and it seems this latest offering will bring some compelling enhancements to the table.
