Analysts on Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-order Chaos: 'Unhinged Times' Due to Tariffs

The gaming community in the U.S. has been on an emotional roller coaster this week. The excitement over the full reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 was quickly overshadowed by the shock of its $450 price tag and the $80 price for Mario Kart Tour. However, the biggest twist came this morning when Nintendo announced a delay in pre-orders to assess the impact of the sweeping tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration on global trade.

We've previously explored the reasons behind the high cost of the Nintendo Switch 2 and the potential impact of these tariffs on the broader gaming industry. Now, the burning question on everyone's mind is: what will Nintendo do next? Will the Nintendo Switch 2 become even more expensive when pre-orders finally open?

Typically, to answer such questions, I consult a panel of expert industry analysts who, while not fortune tellers, often provide a well-informed consensus based on data and trends. I've done this twice already this week. However, for the first time since I began this practice, every analyst I spoke to was stumped by the current situation. They offered guesses, but each response came with heavy caveats about the unprecedented chaos of the moment. No one can predict with certainty what Nintendo, the Trump Administration, or any other player will do in the coming days or months.

With this in mind, here's a summary of the insights I gathered from the analysts:

Sky-High Switch

The analysts were split on their predictions. Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, initially thought it was too late for Nintendo to raise prices after announcing them, but the delay has changed his perspective. He believes Nintendo will likely run simulations and then announce price hikes for the system, games, and accessories. "These sky-high tariffs leave them no choice," he stated, suggesting the base model could reach $500. He questioned Nintendo's decision not to wait for the U.S. to address the tariffs before setting prices.

Mat Piscatella, a senior analyst at Circana, also predicted that game prices, including those from Nintendo, would likely increase due to the unexpected breadth and depth of the tariffs. He noted that Nintendo probably had some assumptions about the tariffs when setting the original price, but the actual tariffs were much higher than anticipated. Piscatella emphasized that businesses relying on international supply chains would need to reevaluate their U.S. consumer pricing.

Manu Rosier, director of market analysis at Newzoo, agreed that hardware prices would rise but suggested that software prices might not be as affected due to the growing dominance of digital distribution. He noted that if substantial tariffs were introduced, companies like Nintendo would likely pass the additional costs onto consumers rather than absorb them.

Holding the Line

On the other side, Joost van Dreunen, a professor at NYU Stern and author of SuperJoost Playlist, believes that Nintendo will try hard to maintain the announced price of $449.99. He argued that the volatility from the Trump tariffs was already factored into the pricing, and Nintendo has restructured its supply chain to mitigate such risks. However, he acknowledged that the unpredictable nature of these tariff decisions could force Nintendo to reassess if the trade landscape worsens.

Piers Harding-Rolls, a games researcher at Ampere Analysis, echoed this sentiment, warning of potential consumer backlash if Nintendo raises prices further. He suggested that Nintendo is hoping for a resolution to the tariff situation in the coming weeks and would prefer to keep the announced price until at least 2026. However, he noted that everything is on the table now, and any price change could impact the brand's perception and consumer behavior at launch.

Living in Unhinged Times

Rhys Elliott, a games analyst at Alinea Analytics, predicted higher prices for both Nintendo hardware and software due to the tariffs. He referenced his previous comments on Nintendo's strategy to offer cheaper digital editions in certain markets, suggesting that the chaotic tariff situation led Nintendo to adopt a 'wait and see' approach in the U.S.

Elliott painted a grim picture of the broader impact of the tariffs on the games industry, aligning with warnings from the Entertainment Software Association. He noted that while some manufacturers are shifting production to non-tariff-impacted markets, the logistical challenges of such moves are immense. He criticized the tariffs as detrimental to consumers and the economy, arguing that they contradict fundamental economic principles and are driven by political motivations rather than economic benefits.

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