Nintendo May Already Have Over a Million Switch 2 Consoles Ready in the U.S.

Nintendo might be sitting on a huge mountain of Switch 2 consoles in the U.S. ahead of its big June 5 launch. According to a new report from Bloomberg, the company has been quietly shipping hundreds of thousands of units from its factories in Vietnam to American shores — and it’s all happening while global trade tensions are still shaking things up.

In January alone, Nintendo reportedly sent 383,000 units from Vietnam to the U.S. Then, in February, that number jumped even higher, with over 700,000 more consoles shipped. That’s more than a million units in just two months, and there’s a good chance more are coming soon.

It’s not confirmed whether every shipment was 100% Switch 2 consoles, but Bloomberg notes that customs data suggests Nintendo is clearly ramping up for a major U.S. launch. The report even mentions the company could build up a “stockpile of millions” of consoles by the time the system officially hits stores.

Speaking of a copy of the new console, Nintendo Fans are Already Camping Out for Switch 2, even with two months to go before it goes on sale!

So why the rush? A big part of it has to do with tariffs.

With former President Trump reinstating his “reciprocal tariffs” policy, countries like Vietnam and Cambodia — where a lot of Nintendo’s manufacturing happens — were looking at possible import tariffs of over 40%. That would’ve made things expensive for everyone, including consumers.

Image: Switch 2 3D-Printed Mock-Up

Unlike its predecessor, this console will have more releases for all ages; we previously published All Nintendo Switch 2 Games, in which we talked about exclusives and ports.

But in a recent move, Trump paused most of those tariffs for 90 days, giving companies like Nintendo a small window to ship in as much stock as possible with a reduced 10% tariff instead. Nintendo seems to be taking full advantage of that break.

Because of all this uncertainty, Nintendo actually delayed preorders for the Switch 2 in the U.S. That led to speculation the console might end up costing more than its rumored $449.99 price tag. But with this early stockpile strategy, Nintendo could avoid raising prices — or at least cushion the blow.

We mentioned earlier that Nintendo hit pause on US Switch 2 Pre-Orders after Trump's tariff move.

Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser also spoke on the topic in a recent CNBC interview, where he said:

“We’ve had some time to build up inventories on a global basis.”

That confirms what many fans suspected — that Nintendo has been planning behind the scenes to ensure the Switch 2 has a strong launch without the chaos of low supply or sudden price hikes.

They’re not the only ones trying to get ahead of the game. Apple has reportedly been air-shipping iPhones to the U.S. for the same reason: to dodge high tariffs. While Vietnam and Cambodia got a temporary pass, China — where 80% of iPhones are made — is still facing 125% import tariffs, which could have major impacts down the road.

For now, Nintendo seems to be in a good spot. With over a million units reportedly in place and more on the way, the company might be able to avoid a lot of the logistical nightmares that have plagued other launches in recent years. That said, it’s still unclear when preorders will go live, and fans are waiting eagerly for the official word.

Until then, all signs point to a massive Switch 2 rollout — and hopefully, enough stock for everyone who wants one.