Nintendo is actively assessing the potential impact of new U.S. tariffs on its business operations, according to Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser. Bowser revealed in an interview that when setting the price of the recently announced Nintendo Switch 2, the company did not consider potential tariffs by the United States.
The Switch 2, Nintendo’s hotly anticipated successor to its popular gaming console, was unveiled last week and is scheduled to launch June 5 at a price point of $450. However, the same day Nintendo revealed its pricing, President Donald Trump announced significant new tariffs on imported goods, a move that quickly sent ripples of uncertainty through global markets.
Nintendo had initially planned to open U.S. preorders for the new console on April 9. However, the company later confirmed that American consumers would face a waiting period, as Nintendo evaluates the full extent of these economic measures and determines an appropriate path forward. The tariffs announced by President Trump specifically target goods from countries integral to Nintendo’s manufacturing supply chain. Under the new measures, products sourced from China would incur tariffs of up to 54%, while goods coming from Vietnam and Cambodia would face tariffs of 46% and 49%, respectively.
Over the past few years, Nintendo has already begun efforts to diversify its production locations. Bowser stated that the company had worked to shift much of its manufacturing away from China toward other Asian nations, a strategy aimed at mitigating political and economic risks. Nintendo will continue to assess the situation closely and devise solutions to navigate the challenging new economic environment.
