Nintendo fans crowded the Makuhari Messe convention center near Tokyo on Saturday, grabbing their first shot at playing the new Switch 2 before it officially hits the market, according to Reuters.
The early access event kicked off in the middle of the morning, pulling in gamers eager to test new titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bonanza on the updated console. Even with fears of rising costs fueled by US tariffs, the turnout proved how hungry people still are for anything Nintendo.
Hidenori Tanaka, a real estate worker who made it to the event, shared his worries about the impact of tariffs.
“Since Mr. Trump became president, tariffs have gone up, so I am concerned about a price hike not just for the game console but for accessories too,” Hidenori reportedly told Reuters while waiting in line. His concerns aren’t exactly random.
Trade tensions are still boiling after US President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on countries like China, forcing companies with global supply chains to eat higher costs. Even though some tariffs were rolled back, the threat of a full trade war still hangs around like bad weather.
Despite the headache over possible higher prices, signs of massive demand for the Switch 2 are impossible to miss. Since launching the original Switch in 2017, Nintendo has moved more than 150 million units.
That console pretty much flipped the company’s financials overnight, and now, the Switch 2 is stepping up to keep the momentum alive.
Kyoto-based Nintendo said on Wednesday that it received 2.2 million applications just in Japan for a lottery giving players a shot at buying the Switch 2 early. There wasn’t enough hardware to go around.
Hyuma Hashiguchi, a 28-year-old gamer who got lucky in the draw, said, “Honestly, I didn’t think I had a shot. Everyone on social media was saying they missed out, so I figured I would too.” His win handed him a golden ticket to play before most of the world even touches the new device.
Nintendo faces trade war chaos while fans line up
Nintendo isn’t stopping at Japan. The company is running hands-on events for the Switch 2 in cities like New York, Berlin, and Hong Kong. The Japanese-language-only version will retail for 49,980 yen, about $350.
In the United States, pre-orders were originally paused thanks to tariff worries. But after some reshuffling, Nintendo settled the US price at $449.99. No surprise if fans grumble a bit.
Adding to the madness, Trump told reporters on Friday that the US is “very close” to finalizing a trade deal with Japan. The Wall Street Journal reported his comments from the White House. He didn’t hand out extra details, which, at this point, feels normal.
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s economy minister and lead negotiator in the trade talks, will be heading to Washington for another three-day visit starting Wednesday.
Last week, Ryosei was at the White House, becoming the first foreign trade negotiator to be hosted by Trump during this new term. During that trip, Ryosei pushed the US to back off tariffs that slam Japanese exports, especially cars, which are a monster chunk of Japan’s economy.
Trump kept his usual vague tone when reporters asked about the negotiations, saying, “I’m getting along very well with Japan. We’re very close to a deal.”
Meanwhile, Japan isn’t playing defense only. On Friday, Japanese officials announced emergency economic steps to help counter Trump’s tariffs. Kyodo News said these measures include help for corporate financing and plans to drive up consumer spending, all designed to keep the economy from getting crushed by export losses.
Even as Japan fights back with policy tools and Trump keeps the pressure turned all the way up, Nintendo fans are still racing to get their hands on the Switch 2. Price tags and politics might make things messy, but nothing could kill the excitement flooding the Makuhari Messe this weekend.
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