Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders: A Chaotic Launch

As I sit down to write this at 11:30pm CT, well past my usual bedtime on a work night, I'm joining countless others across the globe—and possibly several other planets—in the frantic effort to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2. The pre-order window opened at 9pm PT/12am ET across three major retailers: Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. However, the rollout has been anything but smooth, leaving many, including a significant portion of the IGN staff, facing a rollercoaster of success and frustration. Social media is buzzing with similar tales of woe and occasional victory.

At Walmart, eager buyers were quickly funneled into a digital queue, which moved forward for some, allowing them to eventually add a Switch 2 to their cart. However, others remain stuck on a "stay in line" screen with no clear timeline or assurance of success. Those who managed to reach the purchase stage encountered baffling error messages, as seen in the image below:

Target initially seemed more promising without a queue, but soon reports surfaced of error screens disrupting the purchase process. Some customers thought they had successfully pre-ordered, only to receive cancellation emails shortly after, forcing them to start over. Others found the Switch 2 mysteriously disappearing from their carts mid-process.

The Nintendo Switch 2 sold out instantly at Target. This is unreal bro. I refreshed on the second it turned 12 am. Actually unreal pic.twitter.com/LAQ4lC03qw

— Kenj (@Kenjdx) April 24, 2025

Best Buy's pre-orders were delayed, displaying a "Coming Soon" message for half an hour before slowly admitting customers into a digital queue. While some are now receiving purchase confirmations, others are still grappling with errors and the need to restart the process. Additionally, some buyers are facing fraud alerts from their banks, further complicating their attempts to secure a system.

By the time I finished writing this, both Target and Walmart had sold out, while Best Buy's queue continues to be a source of frustration for many, including myself, who have been waiting over an hour. Some have received emails about cancellations or delays without any new delivery dates or options to reorder.

In the coming hours, more success stories may emerge, and there's still a chance to pre-order at GameStop starting at 11:00am ET today, both in-store and online. Additionally, some Nintendo account holders might receive an email in May inviting them to pre-order directly from Nintendo, though this is not guaranteed, especially given the high demand in Japan that has exceeded supply projections.

While those less invested in Nintendo might find the chaos amusing, it's deeply frustrating for fans who have endured a confusing and exasperating rollout. The initial excitement of the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal was quickly overshadowed by the high prices of the system and its accessories, which remained unchanged despite a pause in pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs. Nintendo's unclear plans for physical and digital software pricing, formats, and content have only added to the confusion, leaving many unsure about the total cost and what they're actually buying. With the looming threat of future price hikes and supply issues, the uncertainty about securing a system at launch is understandably upsetting.

Yet, for those eager to play Mario Kart World at launch, this is the current reality. Here's how to navigate the pre-order process if you're still trying: