As I sit down to write this at 11:30pm CT, well past my usual bedtime on a work night, I'm one of countless others frantically trying to pre-order the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. The pre-order window opened at 9pm PT/12am ET across three major retailers: Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. However, what was supposed to be a straightforward process has turned into a chaotic mess, leaving many, including myself and several IGN staff members, with mixed results and a lot of frustration.
At Walmart, eager buyers were quickly placed into a digital queue, with some successfully reaching the checkout, while others remain stuck on a "stay in line" screen, unsure of when or if they'll get their turn. Even those who made it through faced unexpected error messages, adding to the confusion.
Target initially seemed more promising without a queue system, but soon, reports of error screens and canceled orders began flooding in. Some customers received confirmation emails only to find cancellation notices shortly after, while others saw the Switch 2 vanish 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, showing "Coming Soon" for thirty minutes before finally allowing some into a queue. While some have successfully secured their systems, others, including myself, have been stuck waiting for over an hour. Additionally, some buyers reported issues with fraud alerts and 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 are getting through at Best Buy, many are still waiting or dealing with canceled or delayed orders.
Target cancelled my order 10 minutes after placing
byu/syde1020 inSwitch
.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }As the night progresses, more successes are expected, and there's still a chance to pre-order at GameStop tomorrow at 11:00am ET, both in-store and online, or at other retailers in the future. Some lucky Nintendo account holders may receive an email in May inviting them to pre-order directly from Nintendo, though this isn't guaranteed, especially with high demand in Japan outstripping supply.
Bots are the worst
byu/CANfilms inSwitch
.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }While it's easy to dismiss the chaos if you're not a die-hard Nintendo fan, the situation is deeply frustrating for those who are, especially after a rollout that's been confusing and frustrating at every turn. The initial excitement of the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal was quickly overshadowed by concerns over pricing for the system, accessories, and games, compounded by Nintendo's decision to pause and then resume pre-orders amidst tariff changes. The lack of clarity on software pricing, formats, and content has only added to the confusion, leaving many unsure about the total cost and what exactly they're buying. With potential future price hikes and supply issues looming, the uncertainty about securing a system at launch is understandably upsetting.
For those eager to play Mario Kart World at launch, this is the current reality. Here's hoping you can secure your pre-order amidst the chaos.
