Approximately 3,000 Nintendo Switch 2 consoles were stolen from a freight truck transporting inventory between Nintendo of America's headquarters and a Texas GameStop location.
Colorado authorities investigating the Nintendo Switch 2 theft—discovered mid-transport—estimate the loss at $1.4 million, according to Denver 7 ABC News. Investigators face challenges locating the crime scene along the driver's 1,332-mile route from Redmond, Washington.
The sophisticated nature of the theft—involving multiple pallet removals—suggests potential organized crime involvement rather than opportunistic theft. Police haven't determined whether the cargo was specifically targeted.
If apprehended, perpetrators could face multiple felony charges. The truck driver reportedly had no knowledge of transporting Nintendo's next-generation consoles.
Arapahoe County authorities have established a tip line (720-874-8477) seeking information about the high-value theft.
The Nintendo Switch 2 launched successfully earlier this month with 3.5 million units sold globally in its debut weekend. While Nintendo has maintained better stock availability than previous console launches, incidents like this could impact regional supply.
This marks the latest in a series of gaming hardware thefts targeting next-generation consoles. During PlayStation 5's 2020 launch, UK criminals employed dangerous "rollover" theft techniques—using accomplice vehicles to trap transport trucks while thieves boarded moving vehicles at highway speeds.
Nintendo products have previously been targeted, including a 2015 Splatoon game and amiibo figurine heist. The Switch 2 has already faced retail mishaps—most notably GameStop's notorious midnight launch incident where employees stapled receipts through console screens.
