Facepalm: Nintendo would much prefer the focus to be on the many technological improvements introduced with the Switch 2. However, most gamers are now more interested in discussing how much the new console – and its compatible games – will cost compared to the previous generation.

No, Nintendo didn’t slap a $450 price tag on the Switch 2 because of Trump’s tariffs. According to Doug Bowser, the current president of Nintendo of America, multiple factors contributed to the console’s final pricing.

The Japanese company announced the new console on the same day the US administration dropped its financial “nuclear bomb,” and it’s now trying to assess the impact of the tariffs on its business.

Following the Switch 2 reveal, Bowser confirmed that the newly announced tariffs were not factored into the console’s final US price. However, Nintendo was later forced to halt pre-orders – originally set to begin on April 9 – as it evaluates the potential consequences of Trump’s trade policy amid an already complex market.

The new wave of tariffs introduced by the second Trump administration is expected to significantly affect the entire video game industry, with most consoles and games still manufactured in China and other parts of Asia. Nintendo will also raise the price of its first-party Switch 2 games, which are now expected to cost between $70 and $80.

Bowser explained that the Switch 2 will cost $150 more than the original Switch, due to its enhanced features and technological upgrades. The new console will maintain its hybrid design but will offer a larger LCD screen with variable refresh rate capabilities, a custom-built CPU/GPU from Nvidia, more internal storage, and slightly reduced battery life.

Nvidia later confirmed that the Switch 2 will deliver 10 times the graphics performance of the original model, with support for DLSS and ray tracing. Additional new features include larger, more durable Joy-Con controllers, hardware integration for the new GameChat communication option, and more.

Bowser emphasized that these upgrades were carefully considered when determining the console’s final price, and that they’ll ensure the Switch 2 remains a long-lasting entertainment device. Nintendo also plans to keep selling the original Switch models for now, which may create a potential overlap in pricing and positioning between the new, more expensive Switch 2 and its predecessors.

Bowser also mentioned that Switch 2 games will be priced higher due to offering a “unique” experience. In fact, the company even plans to charge customers for simply learning how to use the Switch 2. The mini-games included in the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, Bowser said, are “very deep, very repeatable,” and worth $10.