Overview of Nintendo’s Switch 2 Shipment Amid Trade Tensions
- Nintendo has successfully transported over one million Switch 2 consoles from Vietnam to the US during ongoing tariff disputes.
- The official retail price for the Switch 2 is set at $449.99, with concerns that tariffs could potentially escalate costs.
- Recent tariff adjustments may influence the final pricing of the Switch 2 in the US market.
Nintendo has dispatched more than a million Switch 2 consoles, produced in Vietnam, to the United States. This shipment comes amid escalating trade tensions and tariff increases targeting imports. Following Donald Trump’s recent reelection, global economic relations have become strained, nudging various tech companies, including Nintendo, to expedite their shipments to the US in a bid to circumvent the harsher impacts of the trade war.
The Nintendo Switch 2 was officially priced at $449.99, or $499.99 with the Mario Kart World bundle, during the last Nintendo Direct event, slated for release on June 5. However, both consumers and Nintendo are apprehensive due to the impact of Trump-era tariffs, which have reached 47% on imports from Vietnam and as high as 67% on goods from China. Initial tariff announcements saw these rates adjusted, with a temporary cut to 10% for numerous countries; nonetheless, tariffs on China remain prohibitively high.
According to a recent report from Bloomberg, Nintendo has been focusing its distribution efforts on the US market, with a staggering 100% of its production from Vietnam directed towards American consumers during January and February. While specific figures for March and April are unavailable, it is expected that shipments have continued at a robust pace during these months.
Nintendo’s Strategic Shipping of Switch 2 Consoles Amid Trade Issues
NEW: Data show Nintendo allocating almost entire made-in-Vietnam game consoles to the US, which is in stark contrast with months before, as it tries to find ways to get around Trump tariff on goods from China. Story is free for a week.https://t.co/l3Mf2cYpLX pic.twitter.com/jQdmOYNA45 — Takashi Mochizuki (@6d6f636869) April 10, 2025
Currently, one-third of Nintendo’s Switch 2 production occurs in Vietnam, with the majority still being manufactured in China, as noted by Bloomberg. Due to the fluctuating tariff landscape, Nintendo has paused pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the U.S., introducing a level of uncertainty in the marketplace.
Positive updates regarding Trump’s tariffs could bode well for Nintendo’s shipping strategy, likely allowing the continued transportation of the Switch 2 from Vietnam without the burdensome 47% tariff fee. However, key details regarding the final pricing of the console in the US still remain undecided.
Specialists from Bloomberg have expressed optimism that if the tariffs for Vietnamese imports stabilize at 10%, Nintendo may opt to absorb some costs rather than increase retail prices, aiming to maintain consumer interest and market competitiveness. As developments unfold, the pricing strategy for the Nintendo Switch 2 leading into 2025 will be closely monitored by both fans and market analysts alike.