Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders Launch Chaotically

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 at 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 cart. 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, with the website displaying "Coming Soon" 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 fraud alerts and other financial issues that further hindered their attempts to secure a system.

In the time it took to write this piece, both Target and Walmart have sold out, while Best Buy continues to process orders, albeit with many still stuck in queues. Some have received cancellation or delay notices, leaving them without a clear path forward.

2 minutes....
byu/trashpandacoot1 inSwitch

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

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As the night progresses, more successes are expected, and there will be another chance to pre-order at GameStop starting at 11:00am ET today, both in-store and online. Additionally, some Nintendo account holders may 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 filled with confusion and exasperation. The initial excitement of the Nintendo Switch 2's announcement was quickly overshadowed by concerns over the system's price, the cost of accessories and games, and the sudden pause and resumption of pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs. Nintendo's unclear communication about physical and digital software pricing, formats, and content has only added to the confusion, leaving many unsure about what they're actually buying and at what cost. With the looming threat of future price increases and supply issues, the uncertainty about securing a system at launch is understandably upsetting.

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.