The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 preorders launched at midnight ET on Thursday across major US retailers, but the rollout quickly descended into chaos as eager fans faced numerous technical hurdles.
Target was first out of the gate, but customers immediately encountered problems at checkout, including payment processing issues and address verification errors. Many who managed to complete their orders later received cancellation emails, forcing them to restart the process.
Walmart implemented a queue system that left many customers waiting indefinitely with no indication of progress. While some eventually secured their consoles, others faced mysterious error messages or got stuck in digital limbo.
Best Buy's launch was delayed by 30 minutes, initially showing only a "coming soon" button. When preorders finally opened, customers entered another queue system, though many reported being kicked out after extended waiting periods.
The scramble for preorders comes after Nintendo's earlier postponement of the April 9th launch date due to tariff concerns. Adding to consumer anxiety, Nintendo's president recently warned about potential supply constraints in Japan, while the company indicated that direct sale invitations in the US might be limited.
Despite the rocky start, some persistent customers successfully secured their preorders across the three retailers. However, stock appeared to quickly sell out at all locations. The Nintendo Switch 2 is priced at $449.99 and scheduled to launch on June 5th.
GameStop will offer another chance for preorders, both in-store and online, at 11:00am ET. Additionally, select Nintendo account holders may receive exclusive invitations to purchase directly from Nintendo in May, though the company cautions that demand is exceeding projected supply.
The preorder chaos follows an already complicated rollout marked by pricing concerns and confusion over digital and physical software formats. For many Nintendo fans, the difficult preorder process adds another layer of frustration to an already challenging launch.