Nintendo Says June 5 Delivery ‘Not Guaranteed’ as Switch 2 Pre-Orders Sell Out

Key Takeaways

• Nintendo has warned that it can not guarantee U.S. customers will receive a Switch 2 by the June 5 release date.
• Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs have placed immense supply chain challenges on Nintendo.
• Reports suggest the company will ramp up production in Vietnam to deliver consoles to the U.S.

Nintendo has issued a warning of delays to U.S. consumers hoping to get their hands on a Switch 2 on release day. This follows warnings that it would fail to meet better-than-expected demand in Japan.

The Japanese game maker posted an update on its website that it can not guarantee delivery by the June 5 release date for U.S. customers.

As the video game industry adapts to President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, increased import levies have affected Nintendo’s highly anticipated launch.

Potential U.S. Delays

U.S. pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 went live on April 24, over two weeks later than its original April 9 plan for North America.

In an update to U.S. customers, Nintendo said that due to “very high demand,” invitation emails may arrive after the console has already come out.

“Thank you to those of you who have already registered your interest in purchasing from My Nintendo Store,” Nintendo wrote.

“We’re thrilled by the enthusiasm for Nintendo Switch 2! Due to the very high demand, we will be working diligently to fulfill orders as product becomes available, but delivery by June 5 is not guaranteed.”

The company added that it would update shipping dates after purchase.

Leading games retailer GameStop is offering a trade-in deal for the first-generation Switch to get a $175 decrease from the Switch 2.

The offer, running from April 24 to April 30, allows customers to receive $125 credit for a standard Switch, $175 for a Switch OLED and $100 for a Switch Lite.

Pre-Orders Sell Out Overnight

After pre-orders went live overnight, orders for the Switch 2 quickly sold out in leading U.S. retailers, highlighting immense demand for what is expected to be the most successful console launch in history.

Initial backlash about the price of the console, which is priced $150 higher than its predecessor at $450, has not impacted its sales in key markets.

Nintendo announced that it received 2.2 million applications for its lottery sale of Switch 2 pre-orders online.

This “number far exceeds our expectations, and far exceeds the number of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles that can be delivered from the My Nintendo Store on June 5th,” Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said on X. 

“Therefore, unfortunately, we expect that a significant number of customers will not be selected when the winners are announced,” he added.

Furukawa said the company planned to produce and ship a “considerable number of Nintendo Switch 2 units in the future.”

Switch 2 Launch Poses Supply Chain and Pricing Challenges

Like the broader video game industry, Nintendo has been hit significantly by the Trump administration’s tariffs.

Trump paused the most severe tariffs for most countries while raising import tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, where most Switch 2 consoles are being manufactured.

In 2019, Nintendo invested in a manufacturing hub in Vietnam as a precautionary measure following Trump’s tariffs in his first term.

“Nintendo plans to supply the U.S. from Vietnam and Cambodia production, under normal demand assumptions,” Robin Zhu, an analyst at Bernstein, told Reuters.

Other electrical goods, such as PCs and semiconductors, have received waivers from export tariffs, but video game devices have been labeled as goods, alongside pool tables and casino machines, which are not on the waiver list.

The highly-anticipated console is set to debut on June 5 and so far has not announced any price increases to its $449.99 price tag.

Talking to Reuters , Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy, said: “If the tariffs are really going to hit them, they probably still need to raise the price for the Switch 2.”

Despite keeping console and software prices the same so far, Nintendo announced  price hikes for some accessories in the U.S.

The Switch 2 Pro Controller ($84.99) and Joy-Con 2 controllers ($94.99) have all received $5 increases.

In a statement, Nintendo said other price hikes are “possible in the future depending on market conditions.”

Nintendo’s Strategy

Vietnam, which houses a large portion of Nintendo’s manufacturing operations, was initially hit with a 46% import charge by the Trump administration before those tariffs were paused .

Recent reports suggest that Nintendo may ramp up production in Vietnam during the 90-day tariff freeze and absorb short-term losses by selling the console below cost.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Hideki Yasuda of Toyo Securities said : “We believe the Switch 2’s bill of materials is around $400, meaning Nintendo would still be selling consoles at a loss in the U.S. with the 10% tariff — but the loss would be something Nintendo could absorb.”

If those manufacturing cost estimates are accurate, this means Nintendo would also be operating at a loss in Japan, where the console is priced at $350.

However, Nintendo has not ruled out raising the U.S. price, which is currently set to start at $450.

“We’re actively assessing the impact, but we have nothing further to announce regarding pricing at this time,” Doug Bowser, CEO of Nintendo of America, told NPR.

Gaming Price Increases

On Sunday, April 13, Sony announced it would raise prices for its PlayStation 5 consoles across several key markets.

Prices have increased in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Africa.

Sony attributed the changes to a “challenging economic environment” without directly referencing the recent tariffs.

However, gaming industry commentators believe the price hikes may be a strategic move to protect pricing in the U.S., the world’s largest video game market.

“Rather than simply increase prices there [in the U.S.], it’s possible companies like PlayStation are adjusting pricing globally in an effort to shield the U.S. market,” said industry analyst Christopher Dring.