Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders: A Chaotic Launch

As I write this at 11:30pm CT, well past my usual bedtime on a work night, I'm one of the countless individuals, seemingly from across the globe and beyond, attempting to pre-order the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-orders were supposed to go live at 9pm PT/12am ET across three major retailers: Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. However, the launch has been anything but smooth, leaving many, including a significant portion of the IGN staff, facing a rollercoaster of challenges and occasional victories in securing their consoles.

At Walmart, eager buyers were quickly funneled into a digital queue, which moved at a snail's pace for some, leading to successful purchases, while others remain stuck with no clear end in sight. Those who managed to reach the checkout encountered unexpected error messages, adding to the frustration.

Target initially appeared to offer a smoother experience without a queue, but soon, reports flooded in of error screens and sudden cancellations, leaving buyers to restart the process from scratch. Some even found the console mysteriously disappearing from their carts mid-purchase.

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, with the site displaying "Coming Soon" for a significant period before finally allowing access to a queue. Some are now receiving purchase confirmations, while others face similar errors and the need to restart the process. Additionally, some buyers are dealing with fraud alerts and financial hiccups, further complicating their attempts to secure a console.

In the time it took me to write this, both Target and Walmart have sold out, leaving Best Buy as the last major retailer still processing orders, albeit with long waits and cancellations. Some have received emails about order delays or cancellations, with no immediate recourse or new delivery dates.

As more successes trickle in over the coming hours, there's hope for those still trying. GameStop will open pre-orders at 11:00am ET both in-store and online, and other retailers may follow suit. Additionally, some Nintendo account holders might receive an invitation in May to pre-order directly from Nintendo, though this is not guaranteed, especially given the high demand in Japan, which has exceeded supply expectations.

For those not deeply invested in the Nintendo ecosystem, it might be easy to dismiss the chaos. However, for dedicated fans, the frustration is palpable, especially following a reveal and rollout that have been fraught with confusion. From the initial excitement of the Nintendo Switch 2's announcement, to the shock of its pricing and the subsequent pause in pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs, the journey has been turbulent. The lack of clarity on pricing, formats, and content for both physical and digital games only adds to the confusion and anxiety about securing a console at launch, especially with looming concerns about future price increases and supply shortages.

Yet, for those eager to dive into Mario Kart World at launch, this is the reality of securing a pre-order today. Here's hoping for a smoother process for those still in the queue.