Mario Meets MAGA: Nintendo Switch 2 faces Trump tariff trouble

Gamers were all set to jump into action with Mario Kart World and Metroid Reimagined on the brand-new Nintendo Switch 2. But just when excitement was hitting top speed, reality threw a blue shell.

The highly anticipated console, priced at $449.99, has hit a major bump in the U.S. Nintendo has paused all pre-orders in America—just days after hyping fans with a flashy June 5 launch date.

So, what’s behind this unexpected detour?

None other than former President Donald Trump and his tough trade tariffs.

As part of a new wave of global tariff proposals, gaming hardware—like the Switch 2—is getting caught in the political crossfire. While Nintendo hasn’t officially pointed fingers, sources suggest that escalating U.S.-China trade tensions are making it tricky for the company to keep prices reasonable and logistics running smoothly.

With production likely tied to Asian markets, the impact of these tariffs could either delay shipping or force Nintendo to raise prices further for U.S. customers.

For now, American fans are left waiting at the start line, controllers in hand, with no clear update on when pre-orders will resume.

One thing’s for sure: in this game, it’s not Bowser that’s the bad guy—it’s international trade policy.