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Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders latest updates: Console remains sold out at GameStop, Walmart, Target, Best Buy and others
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are technically open, but it increasingly seems like you'll have a tough time grabbing the console before its June 5 release date if you haven't been able to secure one already. To recap the situation thus far: After an extended delay from the device's original April 9 pre-order date, Nintendo finally kicked off pre-orders in the US and Canada on April 24. A couple of (headache-inducing) hours later, stock at third-party retailers such as Walmart, Target and Best Buy promptly sold out. GameStop began taking pre-orders later that morning but quickly met the same fate, later confirming that its online stock had dried up as well.
Some eagle-eyed buyers were reportedly able to pre-order through Walmart as recently as Saturday, April 26, but that retailer has since taken down one of its Switch 2 pages entirely. (Another listing is still live, but out of stock.) As we write this, none of the other stores mentioned above are accepting pre-orders either.
We'll be sure to note if and when that changes, but right now the only other retailer that has confirmed it'll have pre-orders is Nintendo itself. That said, the device maker will only offer the Switch 2 through an invite system. It began accepting registrations for that on April 2, with the first wave of invites set to roll out on May 8. However, the company updated its site last week to say that some people may not receive their pre-order email until after the June 5 launch date.
How to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2
As noted above, third-party retailers like Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart and Target opened their pre-orders on April 24. Best Buy's, Walmart's and Target's pre-orders opened at midnight, while GameStop's in-person and online pre-orders started at 11am ET. As of our latest update, though, all of those stores have either sold out of their stock or currently list the console as "coming soon."
We expect the Switch 2 to be available from Amazon some time in the future, but links are not live on that site yet, and there's been no indication as to when that might change.
Other membership-based retailers like Costco and Sam's Club have posted Switch 2 listings as well, though it doesn't appear as if those stores will accept pre-orders. Newegg has also added a Switch 2 page but isn't offering an option to buy just yet.
At this point, we recommend signing up via Nintendo's website if you haven't already. It's free to register and you'll eventually get an email that'll allow you to order the console, even if you have to wait until after the June 5 launch day. Note, though, that Nintendo is prioritizing invites "on a first-come, first-served basis" to those who've paid for its Switch Online service for at least 12 months and logged at least 50 hours of total Switch play time. (For the latter, you'll need to have opted into sharing gameplay data with Nintendo, which you can confirm in your account's privacy settings.) So if you're just registering with Nintendo today, don't be surprised if your invite doesn't arrive until some time after the initial May 8 batch.
In any event, if you're desperate to catch a restock, it's a good idea to create accounts with each of the retailers above and ensure all of your shipping and billing info is up to date. Downloading each store's mobile app and signing up for notifications may help too, though that could get annoying fairly quickly. We'll continue to update this post as time goes on with the latest Switch 2 pre-order information.
Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Walmart
Amazon*
Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
*As of 11:30am ET on Thursday, May 1, Amazon has not listed either Switch 2 console package for sale. We will update this article with direct links if they arrive; until then, we're linking to the site's Nintendo-focused hub.
How to pre-order Switch 2 accessories and games
Naturally, the Switch 2 has a number of accessories and new games that you can pre-order separately. While Nintendo didn't adjust the console's pricing upon announcing its new pre-order date, it did raise the cost of several accessories. The new Switch 2 camera, for one, now costs $55 instead of its original $50; the new Switch 2 Pro Controller costs $85 instead of $80; an extra set of Joy-Con 2 controllers is up to $95 from $90, while the official Joy-Con Charging Grip is going for $40 instead of $35. You can check out Nintendo's official statement from April 18 for all of the accessory price adjustments.
Broadly speaking, most of these accessories are still up for grabs at one or two retailers at a minimum, but stock has become spottier since their initial pre-order date. Upcoming first-party games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, meanwhile, remain widely available.
Mario Kart World for $80
Nintendo (digital)
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Donkey Kong Bananza for $70
Nintendo (digital)
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Samsung microSD Express Card – 256GB for Nintendo Switch 2 for $60
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Joy-Con 2 bundle for $95
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Switch 2 Pro Controller for $85
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Switch 2 Camera for $55
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera for $60
Best Buy
Target
Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip for $40
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2) for $25
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case for $85
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
*As of 11:30am ET on Thursday, May 1, Amazon has not listed any first-party Switch 2 accessories or games for sale. We will update this article with direct links if they arrive; until then, we're linking to the site's Nintendo-focused hub.
More Switch 2 details
We knew from its initial teaser trailer that the Switch 2 would be bigger and take a new approach to the detachable Joy-Cons. The new controllers now include a C button, mouse controls and a built-in gyroscope for tilt control. The device itself is indeed a bit larger, with a 7.9-inch LCD screen that supports a 120Hz refresh rate (with VRR), HDR10 and a 1080p resolution. The hardware also has a built-in mic to support a new feature called GameChat that'll let you communicate with friends in-game. Nintendo says that service will be free to all Switch 2 users until March 31, 2026, at which point it'll require a Switch Online membership.
When docked, you'll be able to play at up to 4K on your TV, and Nintendo says it's improved the consoles internal speakers as well. The new dock also has a built-in fan to keep the console cool and help maintain performance during long play sessions. The Switch 2 has dual USB-C ports for charging, and the internal storage amount has increased from 32GB to 256GB. The Switch 2's storage can be expanded like the previous model, but it'll only work with newer microSD Express cards. As seen in the recent 20.0.0 update for the original Switch, the upcoming console will also utilize Nintendo's new Virtual Game Card system for lending digital games across systems, as well as a GameShare feature that lets you share select titles locally with just one copy of a game.
Tariffs and the Nintendo Switch 2
During its most recent Direct presentation at the start of April, Nintendo showed off more of the Switch 2 than it ever had before. That included the reveal of the April 9 pre-order opening date, in addition to the original $450 starting price. Shortly after, President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on China and other countries, prompting Nintendo to delay pre-orders in the US and Canada.
In a reversal, President Trump later announced a 90-day pause on steep tariffs affecting 75 countries, but also announced that the tariff imposed on China will go up even further (right now, it sits at 145 percent).
We now know that the original $450 price for the Switch 2 will remain the same in the US and Canada, but based on its official statement, it appears Nintendo is leaving the door open for potential future price increases.
We also know that Nintendo started moving some of its Switch console manufacturing to Vietnam in 2019. The increased tariff for Vietnam was set to be 46 percent, but that appears to be on hold for now in favor of a 10 percent tariff that’s now in effect for the 90-day pause period.
It has been speculated that Nintendo will boost production of Switch 2 consoles in Vietnam so it can stay on schedule, even if it sells the console at a loss in the short term. It appears the company will have to seriously ramp up production to keep up with Switch 2 demand: according to Nintendo, 2.2 million people entered the pre-order lottery in Japan alone, which is far more devices than it is expected to deliver in that region on launch day.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-pre-orders-latest-updates-console-remains-sold-out-at-gamestop-walmart-target-best-buy-and-others-140931858.html?src=rss
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