Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders: A Chaotic Launch

As I sit at my desk at 11:30pm CT, well past my usual bedtime on a work night, I'm joining countless others across the globe in a frantic attempt to pre-order the highly 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 rollout has been far from smooth, leaving both myself and many at IGN grappling with varying degrees of success, while social media buzzes with tales of frustration, disappointment, and occasional victory.

At Walmart, eager buyers were quickly funneled into a digital queue, which moved at a snail's pace for some, eventually leading to a successful purchase, while others remain stuck on a "stay in line" screen with no clear end in sight. Those who did manage to proceed were met with perplexing error messages or other technical glitches.

Target initially appeared to offer a smoother experience without a queue, but soon, reports surfaced of frequent error screens disrupting the buying process. Some customers thought 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-transaction.

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-order process was delayed, displaying a "Coming Soon" message for half an hour before finally initiating a slow-moving queue. Some customers are now receiving purchase confirmations, while others encounter the same errors and are forced to restart the process. Additionally, several have reported fraud alerts and other financial issues that further complicate their attempts to secure a console.

By the time I finished writing this, Target and Walmart had sold out, and while some at Best Buy managed to secure their pre-orders, others, including myself, have been stuck in queues for over an hour. There are also reports of canceled or delayed orders with no new delivery information provided.

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

As the night progresses, more success stories may emerge, and there will be another chance to pre-order at GameStop tomorrow at 11:00am ET, both in-store and online. Additionally, some Nintendo account holders might receive an email invitation in May to pre-order directly from Nintendo, though this is not guaranteed, especially given the overwhelming demand in Japan that has exceeded Nintendo's supply projections.

Bots are the worst byu/CANfilms inSwitch

While those less invested in Nintendo's ecosystem might dismiss the chaos, it's particularly disheartening for fans who have endured a rollercoaster of confusion and frustration since the Switch 2's announcement. From the initial excitement to the shock of high prices for the console and its accessories, to the sudden pause and resumption of pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs without adjusting the system's price, the journey has been turbulent. Nintendo's ambiguous stance on pricing and formats for both physical and digital software has only added to the confusion, leaving many unsure about the true cost and nature of what they're buying. This uncertainty, coupled with fears of future price increases and supply shortages, heightens the anxiety of not securing a console near launch.

Yet, for those eager to dive into Mario Kart World at launch, this is the current reality. For those still in the race, here's how to navigate the pre-order process: