Nintendo fans had the chance to experience the much-anticipated Switch 2 at an event near Tokyo on Saturday, just ahead of its upcoming release. However, some consumers are worried that tariffs could increase the price of the new console.
“Since President Trump took office, tariffs have risen, so I’m concerned that prices for the console, as well as accessories, could go up,” said Hidenori Tanaka, 55, a real estate employee who attended the event.
The threat of higher prices for electronics looms globally due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on trading partners, including China. While some tariffs have been reduced, the risk of an ongoing trade war remains a concern for companies managing international supply chains.
Despite these worries, there are strong signs of high demand for the Switch 2, the successor to the highly successful Nintendo Switch, which has sold over 150 million units since 2017. At the event, gamers lined up outside the Makuhari Messe convention center near Tokyo to play titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bonanza.
Nintendo’s headquarters in Kyoto revealed that it received 2.2 million applications for a lottery to buy the Switch 2 in Japan, but could not meet all the demand.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I had a chance. Everyone on social media said they missed out, so I thought I would too,” said Hyuma Hashiguchi, 28, who won the lottery to be one of the first customers to purchase the new console.
In addition to the Tokyo event, Nintendo is hosting hands-on demonstrations worldwide, including in New York, Berlin, and Hong Kong.
The Switch 2 will retail for ¥49,980 ($350) for the Japanese-language version. In the United States, after briefly halting pre-orders due to tariff concerns, Nintendo confirmed it would sell the device for $449.99.
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