Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders Launch Chaotic

As I sit down to write this at 11:30pm CT, well past my bedtime on a work night, I find myself in the same boat as countless others across the globe, and possibly a few other planets, all attempting to pre-order the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2.

Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 were set to go live at 9pm PT/12am ET across three major retailers: Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. However, the rollout has been nothing short of chaotic. Both the IGN staff and I, along with many others, have experienced a rollercoaster of success and frustration, while social media is buzzing with reports of numerous issues.

At Walmart, eager buyers were quickly funneled into a digital queue. While some managed to progress and secure their systems, many others remain stuck on a "stay in line" screen, left in limbo without any indication of when—or if—they'll reach the front. Those who do make it through are often met with confusing error messages.

Target initially appeared to offer a smoother experience without a queue, but soon reports emerged of error screens disrupting the purchasing process. Some customers thought they had successfully pre-ordered only to receive cancellation emails shortly after, while others found the Switch 2 mysteriously removed from their carts mid-purchase, 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-orders were delayed, with the site displaying "Coming Soon" for half an hour before finally starting to let customers into a digital queue. Some are now receiving purchase confirmations, while others face the same errors and restarts. Across all platforms, there are reports of fraud alerts and other financial hiccups further complicating the process.

2 minutes....
byu/trashpandacoot1 inSwitch

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }By the time I finished writing this, Target and Walmart had sold out, and while more people are getting through at Best Buy, many, including myself, remain stuck in a seemingly endless queue. Others have received emails about cancellations or delays 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; }As time progresses, we expect to see more successful pre-orders, and there will be another chance to pre-order at GameStop tomorrow at 11:00am ET, both in-store and online. Additionally, some lucky Nintendo account holders might receive an email in May inviting them to pre-order directly from Nintendo, though this is not guaranteed, especially given the overwhelming demand reported in Japan.

Bots are the worst
byu/CANfilms inSwitch

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }While those less invested might dismiss the chaos, it's deeply frustrating for Nintendo fans. The reveal and rollout of the Nintendo Switch 2 have been confusing and exasperating. From the initial excitement to the shock of the system's price and the cost of accessories and games, to the sudden pause in pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs, only to resume without adjusting the system's price, the process has been anything but smooth. Nintendo's unclear plans for physical and digital software pricing, formats, and content have only added to the confusion and uncertainty about what consumers are actually buying. With potential future price increases and supply issues looming, it's no surprise that fans are anxious about securing a system near launch.

For those still trying to pre-order, this is the current reality. If you're determined to play Mario Kart World at launch, here's how you can still attempt to secure your Nintendo Switch 2.