Nintendo’s highly anticipated Switch 2 preorders officially kicked off in the US at 12 AM ET on Thursday, available through major retailers such as Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. However, the launch was marred by significant technical issues, leading to frustration for many eager gamers. After nearly an hour of attempting to secure a preorder, several members of our team at The Verge managed to finalize their purchases, but it quickly became apparent that supplies were rapidly running out at all participating retailers.
Target appeared to be the first retailer to go live with Switch 2 preorders, but the process was anything but smooth. Many users reported being able to reach the checkout screen only to encounter various issues that halted their transactions. Common problems included prompts to update shipping addresses and lost payment information. Furthermore, some users who successfully placed orders at Target faced unexpected cancellations. Despite intermittent stock availability, Target has since confirmed that both the console and the Mario Kart World bundle are now out of stock.
Walmart's website presented a confusing situation with a vague queue message stating, “This deal is almost gone,” which added to the uncertainty for potential customers. Nevertheless, many at The Verge (including myself) were able to secure our Switch 2 preorders from Walmart. Similar to Target, Walmart displayed sporadic availability of the consoles and bundles before they ultimately sold out.
Best Buy, which had promised to launch preorders precisely at 12 AM ET, displayed a gray “coming soon” button for the Switch 2 and the Mario Kart World bundle for about 30 minutes. By 12:31 AM ET, I found myself in line for the bundle, but shortly before 2 AM ET, Best Buy ejected me from the queue, declaring the bundle out of stock. Although I was unable to complete a purchase through Best Buy, numerous reports online indicated that others had success there.
Nintendo initially announced that preorders for the Switch 2 would be available in the US on April 9th, ahead of the console's official launch on June 5th. However, the company postponed the preorder date due to tariff concerns, leaving many fans in suspense without a clear timeline. The preorder challenges come on the heels of a supply warning issued by Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa in Japan earlier this week. Additionally, Nintendo has indicated that invitations to its direct sales in the US may not be extended to all customers prior to launch.
Last week, Nintendo finally confirmed that preorders would commence on April 24th, maintaining a starting price of $449.99 for the console in the US. It's worth noting that prices for accessories have also increased. Earlier this month, preorders began in other regions, including the UK, further fueling excitement for the Switch 2.
