As I begin writing this piece at 11:30pm CT, well past my usual bedtime on a work night, I'm among countless others around the world—and possibly several other planets—attempting to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-orders were supposed to go live at 9pm PT/12am ET across three major retailers: Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. However, the rollout has been far from smooth, resulting in a mix of frustration, dejection, and rare moments of triumph for both myself and the IGN staff, as well as countless others sharing their experiences on social media.
At Walmart, eager buyers were quickly ushered into a digital queue to purchase their systems. While some managed to progress and secure a Switch 2 in their carts, others remained stuck on a "stay in line" screen with no clear indication of wait times or success rates. Those who did reach the checkout faced unexpected error messages, further complicating the process.
Target initially seemed more promising without a queue system, 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, forcing them to start over. Others experienced the system being removed from their carts mid-process, adding to the chaos.
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, displaying a "Coming Soon" message for half an hour before slowly admitting customers into a digital queue. While some are now receiving purchase confirmations, others are encountering the same errors and restarts seen at other retailers. Additionally, some customers reported fraud alerts and financial issues that further hindered their attempts to secure a system.
By the time I finished writing this, both Target and Walmart had sold out, and while more people are getting through at Best Buy, many, including myself, remain stuck in queues for over an hour. Others have received emails about order cancellations or delays without new delivery dates or the option to reorder.
2 minutes.... from r/Switch
Target cancelled my order 10 minutes after placing from r/Switch
In the coming hours, more successes are expected, and there will be another chance to pre-order at GameStop starting at 11:00am ET today, both in-store and online. Additionally, some Nintendo account holders may receive an email in May inviting them to pre-order directly from Nintendo, though this is not guaranteed, especially given the high demand in Japan that has exceeded supply projections.
Bots are the worst from r/Switch
For those not deeply invested in Nintendo or willing to wait, the chaos might seem trivial. However, for dedicated fans, this follows a confusing and frustrating rollout. The initial excitement of the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal was overshadowed by the high prices of the system and accessories, which remained unchanged despite a brief pause in pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs. Nintendo's unclear plans for physical and digital software pricing, formats, and content have only added to the confusion, leaving many unsure about the total cost and what they're actually buying. This uncertainty, combined with the difficulty in securing a pre-order, has left many fans anxious about obtaining a system near launch, especially with potential future price increases and supply issues looming.
Yet, for those eager to play Mario Kart World at launch, this is the current reality. Here's how to navigate the pre-order process if you're still trying:
