As I sit at my desk at 11:30pm CT, well past my bedtime on a work night, I'm joining countless others around the globe in the frantic effort to pre-order a 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 a mix of success, frustration, and disappointment. Social media is buzzing with similar stories of struggle and occasional victory.
At Walmart, eager buyers were quickly funneled into a digital queue, which moved forward for some, allowing them to secure a Switch 2 in their cart. 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, adding to the confusion.
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 restart the process. 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-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 battling errors and restarts. Additionally, some buyers are facing fraud alerts from their banks, further complicating the process and potentially denying them a chance to secure a system.
As I write this, 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 new delivery date or the option to reorder.
In the coming hours, 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, and demand in Japan has reportedly exceeded supply projections.
While those less 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 accessories, which remained unchanged despite a pause in pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs. Nintendo's unclear plans for physical and digital software pricing, formats, and content have only added to the confusion, leaving many unsure about the costs and what they're actually buying. 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.
