Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders 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 in the frantic effort 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 rollout has been anything but smooth, leaving many, including a significant portion of the IGN staff, facing a rollercoaster of challenges and varying degrees of success.

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 carts. However, others remain stuck on a "stay in line" screen with no clear indication of wait times or success rates. Those who managed to reach the purchase stage encountered baffling error messages, further complicating the process.

Target initially seemed more promising without a queue system, but soon reports surfaced of error screens disrupting the purchase process. Some customers believed 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 reported issues with fraud alerts and other financial hiccups, further complicating their attempts to secure a system.

As I write, Target and Walmart have sold out, and while more are getting through at Best Buy, many, including myself, remain stuck in seemingly endless queues. Others have received notifications of order cancellations or delays without new delivery dates or the option to reorder.

Target cancelled my order 10 minutes after placing
byu/syde1020 inSwitch

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In the coming hours, we may see more successes, and there's still a chance to pre-order at GameStop starting at 11:00am ET today, both in-store and online, or at other retailers in the future. 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.

Bots are the worst
byu/CANfilms inSwitch

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For those not deeply invested in Nintendo's ecosystem, it might be easy to dismiss the chaos. However, for dedicated fans, the situation is particularly frustrating following a reveal and rollout that have been confusing and exasperating. The initial excitement of the Nintendo Switch 2's announcement was quickly overshadowed by the high costs of the system and its accessories, compounded by a pause in pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs, only to resume without adjusting the system's price. Moreover, Nintendo's unclear communication about physical and digital software pricing, formats, and content has left many feeling uncertain about what they're buying and how much it will cost. With the looming threat of future price increases and supply issues, the inability to secure a system near launch is a significant concern.

But 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.