How challenging will it be to purchase a Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. at launch and throughout the remainder of 2025? According to Doug Bowser, President of Nintendo of America, the company is confident it will have sufficient inventory to satisfy consumer demand "through the holiday season."
In an interview with IGN about the opening of the new Nintendo store in San Francisco, Bowser mentioned that while initial response to the Switch 2 has been "strong," Nintendo has a strategy in place to ensure a "steady supply" throughout 2025. The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch on June 5.
"Last week, [Nintendo President] Mr. [Shuntaro] Furukawa shared our forecast: 15 million units for the Nintendo Switch 2 and 4.5 million for the original Nintendo Switch this fiscal year," Bowser stated.
"This projection is designed to match what we achieved with the first Nintendo Switch during its initial 10 months on the market. For our U.S. operations, we are confident in our production and distribution capabilities to meet consumer demand. We’ve seen an overwhelmingly positive early response to the Switch 2, reflected in our pre-order numbers, and we have a plan to maintain a consistent product flow through the holiday shopping period."
This is encouraging news for anyone hoping to get their hands on a Switch 2 in the U.S. this year. It's no secret that securing a pre-order has been difficult. After a brief delay caused by tariffs, pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 opened on April 24, with the console's price holding steady at $449.99—and the process was as chaotic as anticipated. Meanwhile, Nintendo has alerted U.S. customers who pre-ordered through the My Nintendo Store, cautioning that release date delivery cannot be guaranteed due to exceptionally high demand.
However, Bowser's recent remarks indicate that those who have pre-ordered a Switch 2 will likely receive one. For more details, check out IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order guide.
Separately, there has been widespread concern about tariffs and whether Nintendo might be compelled to increase the price of the Switch 2 and its games in response. We asked Bowser how committed he is to maintaining the Switch 2's $450 price point at launch and in the future.
Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery
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In response, Bowser was somewhat non-committal but did indicate that Nintendo had "made a commitment" by setting the Switch 2 price at $450 and the Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundle at $500.
"By announcing the pricing—$449 for the standalone console and $499 for the Mario Kart World bundle—we made a firm commitment to our customers," Bowser explained.
"We felt it was crucial to establish that price point, even after new tariffs were announced, to give consumers confidence in the purchase price. Of course, the situation remains very fluid, and it's challenging to predict what might happen in the coming weeks or months. However, we are committed to finding ways, under current or evolving market conditions, to make our products, including the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, as accessible as possible."
For more insights, watch IGN's full interview with Doug Bowser about the Nintendo San Francisco store and the Switch 2.
