Analysis of Supply-Chain Shift in Video Game Console Production to Vietnam

This analysis is based on the YouTube Short [1] claiming that most video game consoles sold during the 2025 holiday season are now “Made in Vietnam” instead of “Made in China,” due to Trump-era tariffs.

Industry sources indicate that Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo (the “Big 3” console manufacturers) are actively shifting production to Vietnam to avoid U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made products [3]. However, timeline discrepancies emerge: external reports show production expansion plans targeted for 2026, including Foxconn’s Fushan Technology plant (set to produce 4.8 million Xbox consoles annually starting April 2026 [1]) and Luxshare-ICT’s 4.5 million console production target for 2026 [2].

Despite these 2026 production start dates, EV Foxconn had capacity to produce up to 4 million gaming devices in Vietnam as early as 2024 [1]. This existing capacity may explain why some holiday 2025 units could carry “Made in Vietnam” labels, especially for newly released products like Nintendo’s Switch 2 (2025 release) [0].

1. Tariff-Driven Shifts
   : The U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods remain a primary driver for manufacturers seeking alternative production locations like Vietnam [3].
2. Timeline Nuances
   : While large-scale production expansion is scheduled for 2026, existing Vietnam capacity from 2024 likely enabled early production shifts, particularly for high-demand holiday 2025 products.
3. New Product Alignment
   : The release of Nintendo’s Switch 2 in 2025 likely synchronized with production shifts, making it a prominent example of the “Made in Vietnam” transition.

• Risks
  : Supply-chain transition delays could affect console availability during peak holiday seasons, and production quality may need monitoring as manufacturers ramp up operations in new locations.
• Opportunities
  : Vietnam’s growing electronics manufacturing ecosystem benefits from the influx of console production, and manufacturers may gain cost advantages or tariff exemptions by diversifying production away from China.

• Major console manufacturers (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo) are shifting production from China to Vietnam to avoid U.S. tariffs.
• While full-scale production expansion is targeted for 2026, existing 2024 Vietnam production capacity may support holiday 2025 sales of “Made in Vietnam” consoles.
• The 2025-released Nintendo Switch 2 is likely a key product in this early production shift.