Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders Chaotic and Quickly Sold Out

As I begin writing this piece, it's 11:30pm CT, well past my usual bedtime on a work night, and I'm one of countless others frantically trying to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2. The pre-orders were supposed to go live at 9pm PT/12am ET across three major retailers: Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. However, the launch has turned into a chaotic mess, leaving many, including a significant portion of the IGN staff, struggling to secure their consoles amidst a sea of technical issues and frustrations.

At Walmart, eager buyers were immediately thrown into a digital queue, which moved forward for some but left others stuck on a "stay in line" screen without any clear timeline or guarantee of success. Those who managed to reach the purchase stage encountered baffling error messages that further complicated the process.

Target initially appeared to offer a smoother experience without a queue, but this quickly changed as error screens plagued the purchase process. Some customers thought they had successfully pre-ordered, only to receive cancellation emails shortly afterward, forcing them to restart their attempts. Others reported the console 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, with a "Coming Soon" message lingering for half an hour before slowly ushering customers into a digital queue. Some have started receiving purchase confirmations, while others face the same errors and restarts as at other retailers. Additionally, some buyers have encountered fraud alerts and other financial issues, further complicating their efforts.

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 people managed to get through at Best Buy, many, including myself, remained stuck in a seemingly endless queue. Others received cancellation or delay notices without new delivery dates or the option to reorder.

Target cancelled my order 10 minutes after placing
byu/syde1020 inSwitch

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }In the coming hours, we may see more success stories, 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. Additionally, some Nintendo account holders might receive an invitation to pre-order directly from Nintendo in May, though there's no guarantee, and demand in Japan has reportedly exceeded supply.

Bots are the worst
byu/CANfilms inSwitch

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }While it's easy for non-fans to dismiss this chaos, for dedicated Nintendo enthusiasts, it's incredibly frustrating. The rollout of the Nintendo Switch 2 has been confusing and exasperating, from the initial reveal to pricing and accessory costs. Pre-orders were halted due to U.S. tariffs, only to resume without adjusting the system's price, just the accessories. Nintendo's unclear plans for software pricing, formats, and content have left many confused and frustrated, especially with the looming threat of future price increases and supply issues.

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.