Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are about to go live

Pre‑orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the United States will open on April 24th, ahead of the console’s June 5th launch, with GameStop, Target, Walmart and Best Buy each setting specific windows for in‑store and online pre-orders.

GameStop announced on X that its stores will begin taking in‑store pre‑orders “when doors open” on April 24th, and that online orders will start at 11 a.m. Eastern Time that same day. The company also confirmed that all its locations will open at 12 a.m. ET on June 5th (9 p.m. Pacific Time on June 4th) for customers picking up their consoles on launch day.

Target’s website states that pre‑orders for consoles, games and accessories will begin at 12 a.m. ET on April 24th.

Walmart spokesperson Leigh Stidham told The Verge that its Switch 2 pre‑orders will also kick off at 12 a.m. ET on April 24th. According to Walmart’s site, customers who place a pre‑order by 8 a.m. ET on June 4th can expect delivery before 9 a.m. ET on June 5th, while supplies last.

Best Buy confirmed that pre‑orders for the console, games, and accessories will open via the Best Buy Mobile App and BestBuy.com at 12 a.m. ET on April 24th. The retailer added that most stores will begin launch‑day pickups at 12 a.m. ET on June 5th (9 p.m. PT on June 4th).

Price holds for Nintendo’s console, rises for accessories

Nintendo maintained the Switch 2’s starting price at $449.99 and kept the bundle including Mario Kart World at $499.99. However, several accessories saw $5 price increases. 

The new Switch 2 camera will cost $55 instead of $50; the Pro Controller is now $85, up from $80; an extra pair of Joy‑Con 2 controllers is priced at $95, compared with $90; and the Joy‑Con charging grip jumped from $35 to $40. 

Nintendo noted that “other adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are also possible in the future depending on market conditions.”

Delay tied to tariffs and market shifts

Originally, Nintendo planned to open pre‑orders on April 9th but postponed the date “in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.” 

At the start of April, during its Switch 2 Direct presentation, Nintendo revealed both the April 9th pre‑order date and the $450 launch price.

Shortly after that announcement, President Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from China and other countries, prompting Nintendo to delay U.S. and Canadian pre‑orders. 

A later decision paused reciprocal tariffs on goods from 75 countries for 90 days, though the tariff on China rose to 245 percent. Nintendo’s latest statement confirmed that the $450 U.S. price will hold for now but left open the possibility of future changes.

To mitigate tariff exposure, Nintendo began moving some Switch manufacturing to Vietnam in 2019. The reciprocal tariff for Vietnam had been set at 46 percent, but during the 90‑day pause, it was reduced to 10 percent. 

Industry observers speculate that Nintendo may increase Switch 2 production in Vietnam to ensure it meets the June 5th launch schedule — even if that strategy means absorbing short‑term losses.