Tariffs May Raise Switch 2 Price

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The anticipated release of Nintendo Switch 2 is slated for some time in this year, leaving many enthusiasts speculating about its price tag. This is a common curiosity among gamers, but the circumstances surrounding this year are unique. Upon taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to impose increased tariffs on goods manufactured outside of the country, particularly those originating from China. This has sparked concern among Nintendo fans, who ponder over how these tariffs might affect the company’s merchandise. In a press conference (translated by Nintendo Everything), Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa addressed the tariff issue and potential strategies to navigate around them.

Not just China, Nintendo Switch is also produced in countries like Vietnam and Cambodia. Furukawa mentioned that they are anticipating potential political issues and planning appropriate responses.

Furukawa’s remarks don’t provide much detail, but it’s clear that Nintendo is carefully considering ways to prevent raising the price of their products excessively. Given that video game hardware is already a substantial purchase for consumers, speculation about the Nintendo Switch 2’s price ranges from $450 to $500, and this doesn’t even account for additional fees or potential tariffs. Some believe that these tariffs might be one of the reasons why an official price wasn’t announced when the Nintendo Switch 2 was first unveiled to the public last month. However, the initial reveal was quite vague; it could be that Nintendo intends to disclose the system’s cost during their scheduled Nintendo Direct on April 2nd.

Discussion about how tariffs affect the video game industry has been lively since President Trump’s election in November. Mat Piscatella, executive director and analyst at Circana who specializes in the gaming sector, recently shared on Bluesky that a potential 25% tariff on Mexican-made products could cause a significant decrease in the number of physical game releases in the US, as much of this production is based in Mexico. Although many consumers have shifted towards digital games, Piscatella predicted that digital prices may rise to match those of physical ones to maintain balance.

Currently, there’s uncertainty about whether tariffs will indeed be implemented and if so, their exact outcome. It might be that agreements will be reached between the U.S. and nations such as Mexico, Canada, and China, thereby sparing consumers from shouldering additional costs. Nintendo seems to be preparing for potential tariffs in advance, which could hopefully limit the overall impact. An increase in price for consumers would certainly be regrettable, but it appears that Nintendo will strive to keep it to a minimum.

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2025-02-16 18:40