Pre-orders for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 were scheduled to launch globally on April 9. However, due to economic turbulence caused by tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, Nintendo had to postpone pre-orders in the U.S. and Canada. Meanwhile, pre-orders proceeded as planned in other regions, such as the UK.

According to an FAQ on Nintendo’s official website, the first invitations for pre-orders will be sent out starting May 8, 2025, through the My Nintendo Store. No details have been released yet regarding pre-orders at retail outlets.

Nintendo has stated that additional batches of invitation emails will be dispatched "periodically" until pre-ordering on the My Nintendo Store is available to everyone. The initial emails will be sent on a first-come, first-served basis to "eligible registrants who meet the priority criteria." Those receiving an invitation will have 72 hours from the time the email is sent to complete their purchase.

To qualify for an invitation, you must meet the following priority requirements:

• You must have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
• You must have maintained any paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 months.
• You must have opted into sharing gameplay data and accumulated at least 50 hours of total gameplay.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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There has been no confirmation from Nintendo about whether they will maintain their announced pricing for the Switch 2, its games (some priced at $79.99), and accessories, or if there will be an increase. Concerns have been raised by analysts that the ongoing tariff war might push Nintendo to raise the price of the base Switch 2 above $449.99, though no official announcement has been made yet.

It's noteworthy that Nintendo is offering a bundle that includes Mario Kart World with the Nintendo Switch 2 for $499.99, effectively reducing the game's cost by $30. However, this bundle is a limited-time offer.

The pricing for Nintendo Switch 2 products in the U.S. is as follows:

• Nintendo Switch 2 by itself: $449.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundled in: $499.99
• Mario Kart World by itself: $79.99
• Donkey Kong Bananza: $69.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: $79.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: $49.99
• Joy-Con 2 Controller pair: $89.99
• Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip: $34.99
• Joy-Con 2 Strap: $12.99
• Joy-Con 2 Wheel pair: $19.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set: $109.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector: $34.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case: $79.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter: $29.99

IGN has covered various reactions to Nintendo's pricing strategy for the Switch 2, including insights from analysts explaining the rationale behind the price increase to $80 for some games.

Elsewhere, former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Nintendo's decision to charge for the Switch 2 tutorial game Welcome Tour, drawing parallels to the Wii pack-in game Wii Sports.