"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," said Hidenori Tanaka, a 55-year-old real estate employee attending the event.
The global electronics market continues to grapple with tariff policies enacted under U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly those targeting trade with China. Although some tariffs have been rolled back, the threat of a renewed trade war looms, leaving companies and consumers bracing for potential cost increases.
At the Makuhari Messe convention center near Tokyo, eager gamers lined up from mid-morning for a chance to experience titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bonanza on the new device.
Despite concerns over pricing, early signs suggest robust demand for the Switch 2. Nintendo revealed that it received 2.2 million applications for its Japan launch lottery — far more than it could accommodate.
"Honestly, I didn’t think I had a shot," said Hyuma Hashiguchi, 28, one of the lucky winners. "Everyone on social media was saying they missed out, so I figured I would too."
Nintendo is hosting similar hands-on events in cities including New York, Berlin, and Hong Kong as excitement builds ahead of the official release.
The Switch 2 will retail for 49,980 yen (approximately $350) for the Japan-only version. In the United States, initial concerns about tariffs caused Nintendo to pause pre-orders temporarily, but the company later confirmed a $449.99 price tag for U.S. buyers.
With the original Switch selling more than 150 million units since its 2017 debut and reshaping Nintendo’s fortunes, expectations are high that the Switch 2 will continue that legacy—even if geopolitical tensions and trade barriers threaten to complicate the road ahead.