Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders: A Chaotic Launch

As I sit down to write this article at 11:30pm CT, well past my bedtime on a work night, I'm one of countless people worldwide, and possibly from several other planets, trying to pre-order the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. The pre-order window opened 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, grappling with varying degrees of success and frustration. Social media is abuzz with reports of similar struggles and occasional victories.

At Walmart, eager buyers were quickly funneled into a digital queue, which moved forward for some, allowing them to add the Switch 2 to their carts. 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 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 removed from their carts mid-process, as illustrated in this tweet:

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 facing errors and having to restart the process. Additionally, some customers reported fraud alerts from their banks, further complicating their attempts to secure a system.

By the time I finished writing this piece, both Target and Walmart had sold out, and while more people are getting through at Best Buy, many, including myself, remain stuck in a seemingly endless queue. Others have received emails about cancellations or delays without any new delivery dates or options to reorder.

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

In the coming hours, we may see more successful pre-orders, 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 that has exceeded Nintendo's supply projections.

Bots are the worst byu/CANfilms inSwitch

While those not deeply invested in Nintendo might dismiss the chaos, it's particularly frustrating for fans who have endured a confusing and exasperating rollout. The initial excitement of the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal was overshadowed by the high prices of the system and its accessories, which remained unchanged despite a brief pause in pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs. Moreover, Nintendo's unclear plans for physical and digital software pricing, formats, and content have left many questions unanswered, adding to the frustration of not knowing if they'll secure a system near launch, especially with looming concerns about future price hikes and supply issues.

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.