"Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders Launch in Chaos"

As I begin writing this piece, it's 11:30pm CT, well past my bedtime on a work night, and I'm joining countless others across the globe in a frenzied attempt to pre-order the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2.

Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 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. Both myself and a significant portion of the IGN team have been battling to secure our consoles, experiencing a rollercoaster of successes and failures. Social media is buzzing with reports of widespread issues, leading to a mix of frustration, disappointment, and occasional triumph.

At Walmart, eager buyers were quickly funneled into a digital queue to purchase the system. While some managed to progress and ultimately add a Switch 2 to their cart, many others remain stuck on a "stay in line" screen with no clear indication of when—or if—they'll succeed. Those who do make it through sometimes encounter perplexing error messages or other unexpected hurdles.

Target initially appeared to be a more promising option, lacking the queue system of Walmart. However, it wasn't long before reports surfaced of error screens disrupting the purchase process. Some customers thought they had successfully ordered a Switch 2, only to receive cancellation emails shortly afterward. Others reported the console mysteriously disappearing from their shopping 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 by half an hour, displaying a "Coming Soon" message before finally allowing users into a digital queue. Some are now receiving purchase confirmations, while others continue to face the same errors and restarts plaguing the other retailers. Additionally, some customers are dealing with fraud alerts and other financial issues that further complicate the process.

2 minutes....
byu/trashpandacoot1 inSwitch

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }By the time I finished writing this, both Target and Walmart had sold out of their stock. At Best Buy, while more people are successfully securing their orders, others, including myself, remain stuck in a seemingly endless queue. Some have received emails indicating their orders were canceled or delayed, with no new delivery information or chance to reorder.

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

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }In the coming hours, we can expect to see more success stories emerge. Those who miss out today have another chance tomorrow at 11:00am ET, when GameStop opens pre-orders both in-store and online. Additionally, some Nintendo account holders may receive an email in May, offering a direct pre-order opportunity from Nintendo—although this is not guaranteed, especially given the high demand in Japan compared to the available supply.

Bots are the worst
byu/CANfilms inSwitch

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }For those not deeply invested in Nintendo's ecosystem, it's easy to dismiss this chaos. However, for dedicated fans, the situation is particularly frustrating. The rollout of the Nintendo Switch 2 has been marred by confusion and frustration at every turn. From the initial reveal to the pricing of the system and accessories, and the subsequent pause and restart of pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs, the process has been anything but straightforward. Add to that the murky details around physical and digital software pricing, formats, and content, and it's no surprise that many are anxious about securing a console near launch, especially with potential future price increases and supply issues looming.

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 in the race.