On Thursday, GameStop announced that it is actively investigating customer complaints regarding damaged Nintendo Switch 2 consoles. The claims emerged from various social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, where several consumers reported that a GameStop location in New York had inadvertently stapled receipts to their Switch 2 packaging, resulting in punctured screens.
One X user, Oadhan Lynch, expressed frustration over the incident, stating, “GameStop stapled the receipt for me and my friends Switch 2s to the box, FML.” Along with his commentary, Lynch shared images of his damaged console following unboxing. He further lamented, “Genuinely insane now I’m gonna have to wait 3 months for the restock. And yes, we were there for the midnight release so I bet everyone in this line is gonna have this same issue.”
In response to the growing concern, a GameStop spokesperson confirmed via email that the company is “investigating this as we speak and will make the customers whole.” By Thursday afternoon, Lynch updated his followers that the store had taken steps to rectify the situation by sourcing replacements from around New York and New Jersey for affected customers.
The complaints appear to be regionally isolated, coinciding with the highly anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2 on Thursday. With a base price of $449.99, and $499 for the console bundled with the new Mario Kart World, the demand for the Switch 2 has been overwhelming. Gamers eagerly lined up at stores nationwide, eager to secure their consoles, especially since the original Switch debuted eight years ago.
Despite the excitement, reports of shortages began surfacing mere hours after the console’s launch. Nintendo President and COO Doug Bowser addressed these concerns during the midnight launch event at Nintendo’s Rockefeller Center store, stating, “We’ve been working really closely with our retail partners to ensure there’s ample supply for not only the launch weekend, but well beyond.”
Compounding the issue, some customers reported that their Walmart orders were canceled just hours before delivery, while others noted that Target was still “preparing to ship” their orders. For those who missed the preorder opportunity, Bowser encouraged contacting local retailers, assuring customers that Nintendo is working diligently to replenish stock throughout the launch and into the holiday season.
In a recent sales forecast, Nintendo projected that it will sell 15 million units of the Switch 2 console in the fiscal year ending March 2026, according to CNBC. For the fortunate individuals who managed to purchase the product on its first day, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the console's impressive updates, including a larger, crisper screen and Joy-Cons that seamlessly snap into the side of the device.
