Nintendo has officially announced that gamers in the US and Canada will be able to place their pre-orders for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 on April 24. The company has confirmed that the price for the Switch 2 console will remain at $450, even amidst changing market conditions and tariffs. Additionally, those opting for the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle will find it priced at $500. However, be aware that Nintendo plans to adjust the prices of Switch 2 accessories due to current market dynamics, and other price adjustments for Nintendo products may occur in the future.
The pre-order process will not only be available directly through Nintendo but also at several participating retailers, including Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart, and Target. Pre-orders will open at different times on April 24: GameStop will start accepting online pre-orders at 11 AM ET, while Target will open its pre-orders at midnight. Amazon is also expected to offer the Switch 2 for pre-order, though specific details have yet to be confirmed.
To pre-order directly from Nintendo, customers must be 18 years or older and sign in with their Nintendo account. Interested buyers will need to register to receive an invitation email when pre-orders open. This invitation will be valid for 72 hours, but it’s important to note that emails will be prioritized for those who have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 months and logged a minimum of 50 gameplay hours by April 2, 2025. This means that loyal Nintendo fans who have recently subscribed to Switch Online may get an advantage when it comes to securing a pre-order.
You can pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 from the following retailers:
Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target AmazonIn an earlier presentation, Nintendo showcased more of the Switch 2 than ever before, including the pre-order date of April 24 and the confirmed price of $450. However, the announcement was complicated by recent geopolitical events, including President Trump's announcement of tariffs on China and other countries, which initially led to a delay in pre-orders in the US and Canada. Although Trump later announced a 90-day pause on steep tariffs affecting 75 countries, the tariff on China increased significantly, currently reaching 245 percent.
Despite these challenges, Nintendo has maintained that the price for the Switch 2 will stay at $450 in the US and Canada, though the company has indicated that future price changes could be necessary. Furthermore, Nintendo has been shifting some of its manufacturing operations to Vietnam since 2019 as a strategic response to tariffs. The reciprocal tariff for Vietnam has been set much lower at 10 percent during the pause period, making it a more favorable location for production.
The Nintendo Switch 2 promises exciting new features aimed at enhancing the gaming experience. The console boasts a larger design and an innovative approach to detachable Joy-Cons, now featuring a new C button, mouse controls, and a built-in gyroscope for tilt functionality. The device will include a built-in microphone to enable a new feature called Game Chat, allowing seamless communication with friends during gameplay.
In terms of display, the Switch 2 features a 7.9-inch LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR capability, and a crisp 1080p resolution. When docked, it supports gaming at up to 4K resolution on your television. Nintendo has also enhanced the internal speakers for better audio quality. The new dock includes a built-in fan to help maintain optimal performance during extended gaming sessions.
For connectivity, the Switch 2 will feature dual USB-C ports for charging, and the base storage has increased to 256GB. As with the previous model, storage can be expanded, although it will only support newer microSD Express cards. With these updates, the Nintendo Switch 2 looks set to redefine portable gaming.
