The pre-order window for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 was initially scheduled to open globally on April 9. However, economic turbulence triggered by tariffs imposed by the Trump administration led Nintendo to postpone 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 on Nintendo's official website, the first round of pre-order invitations for the My Nintendo Store is set to begin on May 8, 2025. Details about retail pre-orders have yet to be disclosed.

Nintendo has announced that subsequent batches of invitation emails will be dispatched "periodically" until the My Nintendo Store opens its purchasing platform to all users.

The initial invitations will be sent out on a first-come, first-served basis to "eligible registrants who meet the priority criteria," as stated by Nintendo. Recipients of these invitations will have a 72-hour window from the time the email is sent to finalize their purchase.

To qualify for these priority invitations, customers must meet the following criteria:

• You must have personally purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
• You must have maintained a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 months.
• You must have opted into sharing gameplay data and logged at least 50 total gameplay hours.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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There has been no confirmation from Nintendo regarding whether the announced pricing for the Nintendo Switch 2, its games, and accessories will remain the same or be subject to increases. Some industry analysts are concerned that the ongoing tariff conflict might compel Nintendo to raise the price of the base Switch 2 above $449.99, although no official statement has been released on this matter.

It's noteworthy that Nintendo is offering a bundle that includes Mario Kart World with the Nintendo Switch 2 for $499.99, effectively reducing the cost of the game by $30. This bundle, however, is advertised as a limited-time offer.

The pricing for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. is as follows:

• 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 covered various reactions to Nintendo's decision to set the price at $80 for games in the Switch 2 generation, including insights from analysts explaining the reasoning behind this move.

Elsewhere, former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the pricing of the Switch 2's tutorial game, Welcome Tour, drawing parallels to the successful Wii pack-in game, Wii Sports, via cryptic tweets.