Pre-Orders for Nintendo Switch 2 Begin April 24 — Priced at $449.99

Nintendo excitedly shared that pre-orders for its much-anticipated Switch 2 will kick off in the United States on April 24. Fans will be pleased to know that the system maintains its initial pricing, starting at $449.99. For those seeking an extra thrill, the package, which includes Mario Kart World, will be available for $499.99.

Originally, U.S. pre-orders faced a slight delay following the console’s first reveal. Nintendo explained this pause was necessary to “assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.”

However, not everything about the Switch 2 remains static. Certain accessories will see a price increase. The Joy-Con 2 controllers will now retail at $94.99, up from their previous $89.99 price point. Similarly, the Pro Controller will cost $84.99, a notch higher than its initial $79.99 tag. Additional accessories, including the Switch 2’s camera, dock set, wheel set, and charging grips are also set to become more expensive.

The announcement from Nintendo hints at possible future pricing adjustments in response to market fluctuations. Despite these hiccups, the official launch remains on track for June 5.

Pre-orders were first slated for April 9 but were pushed back as Nintendo grappled with a bit of strategic timing. It coincided with President Donald Trump’s announcement of comprehensive tariff measures. On that same day, Trump suggested a 90-day pause on many tariffs, although the increased tariffs on Chinese goods were not included.

Thankfully, the prices for popular titles like Mario Kart World and the soon-to-release Donkey Kong Banaza, scheduled for July 17, won’t see any changes. They keep their respective $79.99 and $69.99 price points.

The Switch 2 promises several upgrades from its predecessor, such as an enhanced display featuring HDR support, an additional USB Type-C port, and a more robust graphics chip provided by Nvidia.

With a price of $449.99, the Switch 2 does come at a steeper cost than the original Switch, which launched at $299.99. This has prompted some fans to flood Nintendo’s live streams with pleas urging the brand to “drop the price.”

Acknowledging this feedback, Nintendo offered an apology for the pre-order delay, expressing hope that these changes would alleviate some of the uncertainty their customers might have been feeling.