Nintendo faces the reality of a trade war test with Switch 2 launch

Video game company may be forced to raise the price of the new device if impacted by tariffs

For Nintendo, trade barriers complicate one of the hottest product launches this year, as the success of the Switch 2 is vital for the future profitability of the company. Picture: Reuters/Isabel Infantes

Nintendo's Switch became a source of much-needed escapism during pandemic restrictions. Now, the Japanese video game company faces the harsh reality of a brutal trade war as it launches its successor device.

The Switch 2 is set to debut on June 5. That is eight years after the original Switch, which has sold 150 million units and disproved naysayers who predicted the decline of the console.