I typed up a guide for Switch 2 pre-ordering on Discord and I figured it'd help to share with y'all here:
US Switch 2 Pre-Orders
After being delayed, US Switch 2 pre-orders will begin on April 24th, 2025. Pre-orders will be opening at
Walmart,
Target,
Best Buy, and
GameStop. Specific pre-order times are as follows:
- Walmart: 12am ET/9pm PT online—has a stated 9am launch day delivery.
- Target: 12am ET/9pm PT online—no guarantee you'll receive it on launch.
- Best Buy: 12am ET/9pm PT online—has an option for in-store midnight release pickup.
- GameStop: 11am ET/8am PT online, in-store when stores open on the 24th—online orders can only be shipped, whereas in-store orders can only be picked up in-store. GameStop will be doing midnight releases for the Switch 2 as well.
Walmart,
Target, and
Best Buy all start their pre-orders at the same time, so it's fundamentally up to personal preference. I can't necessarily recommend one over the other, since I've had success with all three in the past. I'll personally be trying at Best Buy, though it's more of an ethical thing for me.
GameStop is the only major retailer starting pre-orders the day of the 24th instead of at midnight. If you miss your shot for a Switch 2 at any of the former three retailers, this is your second chance. If you don't get one online, you can visit your local store since they have a separate allotment of stock. It's unknown how many Switch 2's brick-and-mortar GameStops will have, but you should generally be fine provided you arrive like, 2 hours before opening. No need for an obscene overnight campout.
But what about Nintendo?
Nintendo's using an entirely different process entirely. Provided that you (a) registered interest on their How to buy Switch 2 page and (b) meet the requirements for priority eligibility (At least 12 months on a self-owned NSO account and at least 50 hours of playtime shared with Nintendo), you may be sent an invite to purchase from the Nintendo Store starting May 8th.
Invites will be sent out on a first-come first-serve basis based on eligibility, with priority given to people who meet all the aforementioned requirements before being sent out to remaining eligible registrants.
If you get an invite, it'll be in the form of an email link that will be valid for 72 hours. During this time you'll be able to purchase the console you registered interest for as well as additional accessories and games. Of note,
this is the only way to purchase the NSO GameCube controller. It's unknown if you will receive your Switch 2 on launch day if you buy from Nintendo, but getting an invite is the only guaranteed way to get a console.
Nintendo can be considered a sort of third chance/redemption round for eligible people, though I would still recommend trying for a retailer pre-order regardless. Worse comes to worst, you can always cancel your retailer pre-order if you get an invite to purchase from Nintendo.
Help! I'm super stressed about pre-orders!
A healthy amount of anxiety isn't a bad thing! It's unknown how competitive Switch 2 pre-orders will be based on the unique circumstances surrounding these pre-orders. Reports from insiders like Bilibili-kun claim that Nintendo has an ample amount of stock for pre-orders, and this is backed up by the relatively chill experience our European friends have had pre-ordering. However, it's possible that concerns surrounding tariffs and price increases may create a significant amount of FOMO leading to more competition and scummy resellers attempting to capitalize on that. Regardless, expect competition and be prepared. Here are some tips on how to do that:
- Use multiple devices. Based on previous competitive pre-orders, sometimes a store's app is faster than their browser page. Regardless, having multiple devices and windows trying for something gives you more chances to get through an overburdened web server.
- Make sure you have an account and your accounts are up to date. You'll want to have both your address and payment method saved to your account at minimum. If you have a PayPal, make sure to log in to that as well beforehand and use it when available.
- If you don't get one, it's not over. Besides subsequent pre-order drops, retailers will probably provide more opportunities for pre-orders after this, but at that point you'll need to watch for dedicated notification accounts/platforms like Wario64, Jake Randall, hotstock, or Nowinstock
That's all I got.
Best of luck.
