Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders Launch Chaotic

As I sit at my desk at 11:30pm CT, well past my usual bedtime on a work night, I find myself joining countless others across the globe in the frenzied 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 launch has been anything but smooth, leaving many, including a significant portion of the IGN staff, facing a mix of success and frustration.

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 indication of wait times or success rates. Even those who manage to reach the purchase stage are encountering baffling error messages.

Target initially seemed more promising, lacking the queue system that Walmart implemented. Yet, reports soon emerged of error screens disrupting the purchase process. Some customers believed they had successfully pre-ordered the console only to receive cancellation emails shortly afterward. Others experienced the Switch 2 being removed from their carts mid-transaction, forcing them to start the process anew.

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 system was delayed, displaying a "Coming Soon" message for half an hour before slowly allowing customers into a digital queue. While some have begun receiving purchase confirmations, others are still grappling with errors and the need to restart their attempts. Additionally, some customers reported encountering fraud alerts and other financial issues that further complicated their pre-order efforts.

2 minutes....
byu/trashpandacoot1 inSwitch

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By the time I finished writing this piece, both Target and Walmart had officially sold out, while Best Buy continued to process orders, albeit with many still stuck in long queues. Some customers received notifications that their orders were canceled or delayed, with no new delivery dates provided.

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

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In the coming hours, more success stories are likely to emerge. Those who missed out tonight can try again at GameStop starting at 11:00am ET tomorrow, 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 that has exceeded Nintendo's projected supply.

Bots are the worst
byu/CANfilms inSwitch

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For those not deeply invested in Nintendo's ecosystem, it's easy to dismiss the chaos. However, for dedicated fans, the situation is particularly frustrating, especially following a reveal and rollout that have been confusing and exasperating. The initial excitement over the Nintendo Switch 2 was tempered by the high prices of the system and its accessories, which remained unchanged despite a pause in pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs. Nintendo's lack of clarity on pricing and content for both physical and digital software has only added to the confusion and frustration. With concerns about future price hikes and supply issues looming, many are left uncertain about securing a console at launch.

Yet, for those eager to play Mario Kart World at launch, this is the current reality. Here's how to navigate the pre-order process for those still trying.