Switch 2 Pre-Order Dates Announced for U.S. and Canada

Pre-orders for the eagerly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 were initially slated to begin worldwide on April 9. However, due to economic turmoil spurred by Trump's tariffs, Nintendo was compelled to delay pre-orders in the U.S., followed by Canada. Meanwhile, pre-orders proceeded as planned in other regions, including the UK.

According to a FAQ published on Nintendo’s official website, the first wave of invitations for pre-orders through the My Nintendo Store will commence on May 8, 2025. At this point, there is no information available regarding retail pre-orders.

Nintendo has also stated that additional batches of invitation emails will be dispatched periodically until pre-orders at the My Nintendo Store are opened to the general public.

The initial invitations will be sent out on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible registrants who meet specific priority criteria. Those who receive an invitation will have 72 hours from the time the email is sent to finalize their purchase.

To qualify for the priority pre-order invitations for the Nintendo Switch 2, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have purchased any Nintendo Switch Online membership.
• You must have maintained a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 months.
• You must have opted in to share gameplay data and accumulated at least 50 hours of total gameplay.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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There has been no confirmation from Nintendo regarding whether they will maintain the previously announced pricing for the Nintendo Switch 2, its games, and accessories, or if there will be an increase. Some analysts have raised concerns that the ongoing tariff war might force Nintendo to raise the price of the base Switch 2 above $449.99, though no official statement has been made yet.

It's noteworthy that Nintendo is offering a bundle that includes the Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World for $499.99, effectively reducing the price of the game by $30. However, this bundle is only available for a limited time.

Here are the current pricing details for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S.:

• Nintendo Switch 2 by itself: $449.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundled in: $499.99
• Mario Kart World by itself: $79.99
• Donkey Kong Bananza: $69.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: $79.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: $49.99
• Joy-Con 2 Controller pair: $89.99
• Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip: $34.99
• Joy-Con 2 Strap: $12.99
• Joy-Con 2 Wheel pair: $19.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set: $109.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector: $34.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case: $79.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter: $29.99

IGN has extensively covered the reactions to Nintendo's decision to price some Switch 2 games at $80, including insights from analysts explaining the rationale behind this move.

Elsewhere, former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé has weighed in on the pricing controversy surrounding the Switch 2's tutorial game, Welcome Tour, through his social media posts, drawing parallels to the Wii's pack-in game, Wii Sports.