Switch 2 surges; fans sue

Nintendo’s Switch 2 was the top-selling video game console in the United States in March, lifted by demand for Pokémon Pokopia. (bloomberg.com) Circana said U.S. consumers spent $500 million on game hardware in March, up 69% from a year earlier, and Switch 2 led the market in both unit sales and dollar sales for the month. Circana also said Switch 2 ranked first on both measures for 2026 year to date. (circana.com) Bloomberg reported that Pokopia was the main driver of March’s hardware surge, after the Switch 2-exclusive game became a surprise hit following its March 5 release. Earlier in March, Bloomberg said the game sold 2.2 million copies in its first four days. (bloomberg.com, bloomberg.com) At the same time, Nintendo is facing class-action complaints from fans who want tariff-related refunds sent back to customers. IGN reported on April 23 that the suits target higher prices on Switch 2 accessories and on some original Switch hardware sold in the past year. (ign.com) Nintendo said on April 18, 2025 that it would keep the Switch 2 console at $449.99 in the United States, but it raised accessory prices before retail pre-orders began on April 24, 2025. The listed prices included $84.99 for the Switch 2 Pro Controller, $94.99 for Joy-Con 2 Pair, and $119.99 for the Dock Set. (nintendo.com) Nintendo had already raised U.S. prices on the original Switch family effective August 3, 2025, saying the changes were based on market conditions. That update covered the Nintendo Switch OLED Model, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and selected accessories. (nintendo.com) The tariff fight traces back to the Switch 2 launch window. Nintendo announced the console on April 2, 2025 at $449.99, delayed U.S. pre-orders while it assessed tariff conditions, and later resumed them without changing the base console price. (nintendo.com, nintendo.com) IGN separately reported in March 2026 that Nintendo sued the U.S. government over the tariffs, seeking refunds with interest after the duties disrupted its pre-order plans. In that report, IGN said Nintendo had increased prices for accessories while leaving the console price unchanged. (ign.com, ign.com) Circana said in a February 2026 forecast that Switch 2 had become the fastest-selling home console in U.S. history after seven months on the market. March’s sales lead shows Nintendo still converting game demand into hardware demand even as the pricing dispute moves into court. (circana.com, circana.com)