As I sit at my desk at 11:30pm CT, well past my bedtime on a work night, I find myself, like countless others around the globe and beyond, attempting to pre-order the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-orders were set to go live at 9pm PT/12am ET across three major retailers: Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. However, the launch has been nothing short of chaotic.
At Walmart, eager buyers were immediately funneled into a digital queue. While some managed to progress and secure their systems, many remain stuck on a "stay in line" screen with no clear timeline or assurance of success. Those who eventually reached the purchase stage encountered various error messages, complicating the process further.
Target initially seemed more promising without a queue, but soon reports surfaced of error screens disrupting the purchase process. Some customers believed they had successfully ordered a Switch 2, only to receive cancellation emails shortly after. Others found the console mysteriously removed from their carts, forcing them to start over.
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 launch was delayed, with the site displaying "Coming Soon" for half an hour. Once live, customers were slowly placed in a digital queue, with some now beginning to receive confirmation emails. However, many are still facing errors and having to restart the process. Additionally, some buyers reported issues with fraud alerts and other financial hiccups that further disrupted their attempts to secure a system.
2 minutes....
byu/trashpandacoot1 inSwitch
.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }As I write, both Target and Walmart have officially sold out. Best Buy continues to process orders, but many, including myself, remain in a seemingly endless queue. Some have received cancellation or delay notices with no new delivery dates or options 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, more success stories may emerge. For those still seeking a pre-order, GameStop will open pre-orders at 11:00am ET both in-store and online. Additionally, some Nintendo account holders might receive an invitation to pre-order directly from Nintendo in May, though this is not guaranteed, especially given the high demand in Japan.
Bots are the worst
byu/CANfilms inSwitch
.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }For those less invested in Nintendo's ecosystem, the frenzy might seem trivial. However, for dedicated fans, this chaos follows a rollout that has been confusing and frustrating. The initial reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 was exciting, but the pricing of the system and its accessories, coupled with a pause in pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs and subsequent resumption without price adjustments, has left many bewildered. Nintendo's lack of clarity on physical and digital software pricing, formats, and content has only added to the confusion. With potential future price increases and supply issues looming, the uncertainty of securing a system near launch is particularly distressing.
If you're eager to play Mario Kart World at launch, this is the current reality. For those still trying, here's how to navigate the pre-order process.
