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—and possibly several other planets—in the frantic effort to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-orders were supposed to go live at 9pm PT/12am ET across three major retailers: Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. However, the rollout has been anything but smooth, leaving many, including myself and a significant portion of the IGN staff, grappling with a mix of frustration, disappointment, and occasional success.
At Walmart, eager buyers were quickly ushered into a digital queue, which progressed for some, leading to a successful purchase. Yet, many are still stuck on a "stay in line" screen, left without any indication of wait times or success probabilities. Those who finally reached the checkout faced unexpected error messages and other technical glitches.
Target initially seemed more promising, lacking a queue system. However, reports soon flooded in about errors throughout the purchase process. Some customers believed they had secured a Switch 2, only to receive cancellation emails shortly after, forcing them to restart the ordeal. Others experienced the console being removed from their carts mid-process.
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 by half an hour, displaying a "Coming Soon" message before finally initiating a slow-moving digital queue. While some have begun receiving purchase confirmations, others are contending with the same errors and restarts seen at other retailers. Additionally, some customers reported fraud alerts from their banks, further complicating their attempts to secure a system.
As I write this, Target and Walmart have reportedly sold out, and while more are getting through at Best Buy, many, including myself, remain stuck in a seemingly endless queue. Others have received cancellation or delay notices without any new delivery dates or options to reorder.
2 minutes....
byu/trashpandacoot1 inSwitch
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In the coming hours, more successes are likely to emerge. Those still trying can attempt to pre-order at GameStop at 11:00am ET today, both in-store and online, or look to other future retail opportunities. Additionally, some Nintendo account holders might receive an invitation in May to pre-order directly from Nintendo, though this is not guaranteed, especially given the high demand in Japan compared to projected supply.
Target cancelled my order 10 minutes after placing
byu/syde1020 inSwitch
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For those less invested in Nintendo or willing to wait, the chaos might seem trivial. Yet, for dedicated fans, the situation is particularly aggravating, following a reveal and rollout filled with confusion and frustration. The initial excitement for the Nintendo Switch 2 was overshadowed by the pricing of the system and its accessories, further complicated by a pause in pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs, and then resumed without adjusting the system's price. Nintendo's unclear communication on physical and digital software pricing, formats, and content has only added to the confusion. With looming concerns about future price increases and supply shortages, it's no surprise that fans are anxious about securing a console near launch.
Bots are the worst
byu/CANfilms inSwitch
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For those eager to play Mario Kart World at launch, this is the reality we face. Here's how to navigate the pre-order process if you're still trying.
