MW Nintendo isn't raising the price of the Switch 2 or 'Mario Kart World' over Trump tariffs - for now

By Nicole Lyn Pesce

The Nintendo Switch 2 has a new U.S. preorder date, and the launch price for the console and its launch titles will stay the same. However, the price of many Switch 2 accessories will go up.

Gamers got a classic "good news, bad news" announcement on Good Friday.

The good news: The Nintendo Switch 2's price - $449.99 for the console, and $499.99 for the Nintendo Switch 2 and "Mario Kart World" bundle - will stay the same despite the recent tariff uncertainty and stock-market turmoil, according to a press release that dropped on Friday morning. What's more, the cost of the physical and digital launch game titles for the new system - "Mario Kart World" and "Donkey Kong Bananza" - are also remaining unchanged at $79.99 and $69.99, respectively.

The bad news: Nintendo suggested that it's only a matter of time before these prices - which have caused consternation among gamers who have complained since Nintendo's April 2 promotional event - will rise. Nintendo's Friday statement noted that Nintendo Switch 2 accessories will cost more immediately. And, worse yet, "other adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are also possible in the future depending on market conditions."

Some of the accessories already seeing price hikes include the Joy-Con 2 controllers, which were originally $89.99, but will go up $5 to $94.99. The dock set, originally at $109.99, will be $10 more at $119.99. Most accessories have jumped $5 to $10 in price.

Here's an updated list of Nintendo Switch 2 accessories and their prices:

-- Nintendo Switch 2 - $449.99

-- Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle - $499.99

-- Mario Kart World - $79.99

-- Donkey Kong Bananza - $69.99

-- Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller - $84.99

-- Joy-Con 2 Pair - $94.99

-- Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip - $39.99

-- Joy-Con 2 Strap - $13.99

-- Joy-Con 2 Wheel Set - $24.99

-- Nintendo Switch 2 Camera - $54.99

-- Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set - $119.99

-- Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector - $39.99

-- Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case - $84.99

-- Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter - $34.99

-- Samsung microSD Express Card - 256GB for Nintendo Switch$(TM)$ 2 - $59.99

Nintendo announced its long-awaited (and long-delayed) sequel to its versatile Nintendo Switch console earlier this month - on the same day President Donald Trump revealed his "liberation day" tariffs. From the start, videogame-industry insiders and gaming enthusiasts alike wondered if the Switch 2's June 5 rollout and already-hefty $450-$500 price tag would be affected by Trump's reciprocal tariffs, which were much higher than anticipated. Some Nintendo consoles are assembled in China, which is facing 145% tariffs, as well as in Vietnam and Cambodia - countries that were facing tariffs approaching 50%, but whose tariffs will be 10% for at least the next few months.

Nintendo fans' worst fears seemed to be realized when, just two days after the Switch 2 reveal and the Trump reciprocal tariffs dropped, Nintendo postponed the Switch 2's preorder date in the U.S. The company released a statement earlier in the month explaining that it was delaying American preorders for the foreseeable future "in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions."

There were plenty of concerns about what the tariffs could do to the Switch 2's price.

Things are starting to look up, however. Preorders in the U.S. are now scheduled for April 24. And it seems customers will be able to preorder their Switch 2 for the originally advertised price - for now.

But it's still not all rainbows (or rainbow roads, for "Mario Kart" fans) since the price of the Switch 2 and its games has been met with backlash from many gamers. In fact, this week's "Mario Kart World" Direct promotional event, which Nintendo livestreamed online, saw its chat feed flooded by angry gamers calling on the company to lower prices on the Switch 2 and its games.

The original Switch has been a huge hit since it was first released in 2017 for a fairly accessible $299.99 price point, selling 150 million units worldwide over the past eight years, as WSJ reported. And Nintendo's iconic "Super Mario Bros." franchise has been breaking high scores for decades, including its hit 2023 "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" that raked in more than $1 billion at the global box office.

-Nicole Lyn Pesce

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April 18, 2025 11:20 ET (15:20 GMT)

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