NEW YORK — Pre-orders for the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 began across the United States just after midnight on Thursday. However, the launch quickly spiraled into chaos as consumer demand soared beyond expectations.
Many eager fans hoping for a first-hand experience with Nintendo’s latest innovation, which is scheduled for a June 5 release, flooded online platforms trying to secure their preorders. While some experienced success, a significant number faced frustrating issues, with participating retailers swiftly running out of stock.
Disappointed shoppers took to social media, sharing experiences of prolonged wait times, error messages, and vanished items from their carts. Some even reported receiving confirmation emails, only to later learn their orders had been canceled.
Nintendo addressed the “very high demand” via an update for prospective Switch 2 buyers from its My Nintendo Store. The company assured customers it was “working diligently to fulfill orders” but could not guarantee delivery by the launch date, urging them to also try other participating retailers for a better chance.
Retail giant Walmart echoed the overwhelming interest, stating that their stock for the Switch 2 was depleted quickly due to high demand. They launched their preorders at midnight Eastern Time and underscored the excitement surrounding this opportunity. Customers would have another opportunity to purchase the consoles on the official release date of June 5.
Meanwhile, Best Buy and Target also released their preorders in the early hours of Thursday, but both quickly displayed their listings as “out of stock” or “currently unavailable.” GameStop joined the frenzy later, rolling out both in-store and online preorders, which were similarly snapped up within minutes. Some customers reported slow confirmation processes.
GameStop acknowledged the overwhelming demand impacting their systems, announcing on X, previously known as Twitter, that their online inventory was exhausted. The company pledged to eliminate bot and duplicate orders to make more units available. Nonetheless, by Thursday afternoon, in-person preorders were still accessible across its retail locations.
The total stock each retailer allocated for the Switch 2’s preorders remained uncertain, with Nintendo, GameStop, Target, and Best Buy not immediately providing comments on the situation.
The fervent and brisk demand for the Switch 2 is hardly unforeseen. The console has been touted as an enhancement over its eight-year-old predecessor, featuring exciting improvements such as interactive chat, a larger display, and new games.
However, the Switch 2’s debut comes amid market instability, heightened by the U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly imposed tariffs and retaliatory measures from other nations, notably China. Analysts anticipate these increased tariffs will drive up costs on diverse consumer products that depend on international supply chains, including electronics.
Priced at $449.99, the Switch 2 is significantly more expensive than the original model’s $299 debut price. While its upgraded features might justify part of the price increase, economists suggest the new import duties are also a factor.
Earlier this month, preorders for the Switch 2 experienced delays in anticipation of Trump’s highest tariffs, which have mostly been postponed, coming into effect. Initially intended to commence on April 9, preorders were postponed to allow further assessment of tariff impacts and shifting market conditions. Although Nintendo affirmed some accessory price adjustments, they remained committed to retaining the console’s initially announced base price.
Hoping for a resurgence in consumer interest, Nintendo is banking on the Switch 2 to reinvigorate its console lineup, as its predecessor has been losing traction. In February, Nintendo, based in Kyoto, Japan, projected sales of eleven million Switch units for the fiscal year concluding in March, falling short of its previous forecast of 12.5 million units.
In the first nine months of their fiscal year, Nintendo reported a profit of 237 billion yen (approximately $1.5 billion), a notable 42% decline from the corresponding span in the previous year.