Switch 2 Priced to Weather Tariffs? Nintendo Responds

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Summary

  • There are concerns over the effect US tariffs on Chinese imports may have on the Nintendo Switch 2‘s price.
  • Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa addressed these concerns, stating that the financial impact of the tariffs is expected to be minimal.
  • Details of the Switch 2’s price and release date are expected to be revealed in a Nintendo Direct on April 2.

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has revealed that they are examining the potential effects of the U.S. government’s tariffs on Chinese goods, particularly as it pertains to the upcoming Switch 2. Furukawa further clarified that Nintendo consoles are not solely produced in China, but instead, manufacturing takes place in other Asian countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia.

The upcoming model, referred to as the Switch 2, is expected to replace its predecessor and boast backward compatibility with a majority of the original Switch’s physical and digital game collection. Enhanced hardware components within the main console will also be included, along with an innovative feature for the Joy-Con controllers: they may function similarly to a mouse, catering to various games and applications. Although Nintendo has kept quiet about the Switch 2 since its unveiling on January 16, the potential of these new Joy-Con controller functions could prove valuable in the development of future games. A Nintendo Direct focusing on the Switch 2 will air live on Wednesday, April 2 at 9:00 AM Eastern time.

As worries increase over how tariffs imposed by the U.S. government on products from Mexico, Canada, and China could affect the cost of the Switch 2, Nintendo’s leader has spoken up about the situation. According to Reuters (translated by Nintendo Everything), Furukawa stated that while some impact is anticipated, the effect on this year’s financial results is expected to be small. He went on to say that they will closely monitor the trends and carefully consider their response. Since a significant portion of Nintendo Switch consoles were imported before the tariffs took effect, Furukawa pointed out that Nintendo Switch systems are not solely produced in China. Instead, Nintendo has also worked with countries like Vietnam and Cambodia in its business ventures.

Furukawa States Nintendo Will Consider How Tariffs and Geopolitical Risks Will Impact The Switch 2

  • Concerns about the Switch 2’s price stemmed from the US government’s proposed tariffs on goods from primarily China, Mexico, and Canada.
  • Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said the company anticipated geopolitical risks and tariffs with their manufacturing processes.
  • Furukawa said that Nintendo’s manufacturing plants are not just in China but in other nations like Cambodia and Vietnam.
  • The Switch 2’s MSRP and release date are expected to be revealed during the April 2 Nintendo Direct.

Furukawa stated that Nintendo has been working to minimize geopolitical risks for some time, yet declined to discuss the possible cost of the Switch 2. Some analysts predict a starting price within the $400 range for the Switch 2, but this could shift due to tariffs. Furukawa also remained silent about the company’s plans for the fiscal year 2025/2026 and how the release of the Switch 2 would be incorporated into their future projections.

Although we expect some effect, the impact on this year’s finances should be relatively small. We’ll keep tracking developments and carefully plan our response strategy.

In about two months (as of this writing), the Nintendo Direct scheduled for April 2 could disclose the global price and launch date for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. However, the potential impact of the U.S. government’s proposed tariffs on Nintendo’s financial situation in the near future remains uncertain.

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2025-02-17 23:14