NEW YORK, NY – The much-anticipated preorders for Nintendo’s Switch 2 in the US finally began at 12AM ET on Thursday, bringing excitement but also frustration to eager customers. Sites like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart quickly saw issues arise as consumers scrambled to secure their orders. Despite initial challenges, some were able to successfully place their preorders, while others faced difficulties navigating through the process.
At Target, the launch of preorders seemed to happen first, but customers encountered obstacles along the way. Many reported issues during the checkout process, such as address updates or payment details not being recognized, leading to unsuccessful purchases and even canceled orders. Although stock availability fluctuated after the preorders went live, Target eventually announced that both the console and the bundle with Mario Kart World were out of stock.
Walmart’s website also presented challenges, with a vague queue causing confusion for some customers. However, after a period of uncertainty, many were able to successfully secure their Switch 2 preorders from the retailer. Similar to Target, Walmart experienced fluctuating stock levels before ultimately selling out of both the consoles and bundles.
Meanwhile, Best Buy initially displayed a “coming soon” button for the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World bundle pack, leaving customers waiting in anticipation. Despite an initial delay, some customers were able to successfully complete their orders at Best Buy before stock ran out. Reports of success at Best Buy began surfacing online, indicating that some customers were able to secure their preorders through the retailer.
Nintendo’s decision to delay the preorders in the US came amidst concerns over tariffs, without providing a definite date for when they would begin. This move followed a supply warning issued by Nintendo’s president in Japan, hinting at potential challenges in meeting consumer demand. Additionally, Nintendo announced that invitations to its direct sales in the US may not be available to all customers ahead of the launch, further complicating the preorder process.
With preorders officially starting on April 24th in the US, customers were relieved to finally secure their orders, despite some accessories receiving price hikes. The company had already initiated preorders in other regions earlier in the month, like the UK, signaling a global rollout of the highly anticipated Switch 2 console.