As I write this at 11:30pm CT, well past my bedtime on a work night, I'm among countless others across the globe attempting 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 scramble.
At Walmart, eager buyers were immediately placed in a digital queue, with some progressing to secure a Switch 2 in their carts, while others remain stuck on a "stay in line" screen, unsure of when or if they'll succeed. Those who managed to reach the purchase stage encountered confusing error messages, as shown below:
Target initially seemed more promising without a queue system, but soon reports flooded in of error screens halting the purchase process. Some customers received confirmation emails, only to be followed by cancellation notices shortly after, forcing them to restart. Others experienced the Switch 2 being removed from their carts mid-process.
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 faced its own set of issues, with pre-orders delayed by half an hour under a "Coming Soon" status before finally starting. Some customers are now receiving purchase confirmations, while others struggle with errors and restarts. Additionally, some are dealing with fraud alerts and other financial hiccups that prevent them from completing their orders.
2 minutes....
byu/trashpandacoot1 inSwitch
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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 lengthy queues. Others have received cancellation or delay notices without new delivery dates or reorder options.
Target cancelled my order 10 minutes after placing
byu/syde1020 inSwitch
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In the coming hours, we might see more successful pre-orders, and there's still a chance to pre-order at GameStop tomorrow at 11:00am ET, both in-store and online. Additionally, some Nintendo account holders may receive an invitation to pre-order directly from Nintendo in May, though there's no guarantee, and demand in Japan reportedly exceeds supply.
Bots are the worst
byu/CANfilms inSwitch
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For those not deeply invested in Nintendo's ecosystem, the chaos might seem trivial. However, for dedicated fans, the situation is particularly frustrating, especially following a confusing rollout. The initial reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 was exciting, but the pricing of the console and accessories, coupled with paused pre-orders due to U.S. tariffs and subsequent price adjustments only for accessories, has left many feeling bewildered. Nintendo's lack of clarity on software pricing, formats, and content has only added to the confusion, leaving fans uncertain about costs and what they're actually buying. With the looming threat of future price hikes and supply issues, the inability to secure a console near launch adds to the frustration.
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.
