Nintendo Switch 2 is getting an old school midnight launch at major UK toy store Michael Beckwith Published May 27, 2025 5:51pm Updated May 27, 2025 5:51pm A midnight rendezvous at Smyths could nab you a Switch 2 (Nintendo) If you’re yet to secure a pre-order for the Nintendo Switch 2, you may want to consider attending the console’s only public midnight launch. Midnight launch events used to be guaranteed whenever new video games, and especially new gaming consoles, arrived but the whole concept has slowly disappeared over time, along with the shops that used to host them. This is because people are buying fewer physical games than they used to, as well as the decline of local high street shopping in general – something the lockdown-inducing coronavirus pandemic only accelerated. As such, it seems like very few people will be camping outside their local gaming shops to be among the first to grab a Nintendo Switch 2 next week, although one retailer is keeping the dream alive with a country-wide midnight launch. The retailer in question is Smyths, which already offers online and in-store Switch 2 pre-orders. Unsurprisingly, it’s sold out at the moment, but the idea is that there’ll be more stock in for the countrywide midnight launch events. According to its own website, all Smyth stores in the UK will have a limited selection of Switch 2 stock to purchase from 12:01am until 12:30am on June 5. If you’ve already pre-ordered for Click & Collect or In-Store Collection, you can pick yours up during the midnight launch too, but you must have photo ID with you. Be sure to use Smyth’s store tracker to check if there’s one near where you live or at least within reasonable driving distance if you’re interested in taking part. Smyths has also scheduled a separate launch event that’ll run from 11:30pm on June 4 until 12:30am on June 5, where you can play a Mario Kart World demo and, if you’re among the first 100 attendees, claim free Nintendo themed goodies. This is only happening at a small selection of stores, though, at the following locations: Belfast Glasgow Hull Romford Stockport At the time of writing, there’s no mention of any other retailers offering similar events, at least in the UK. US retailers Best Buy and GameStop will open at midnight for people to buy a Switch 2, but that seems to be it. More Trending Aside from a couple of YouTubers who aim to be the first to step into the Nintendo Stores in the US once the Switch 2 launches, we’ve yet to see much evidence of anyone camping outside shops. At least not to the degree of past console launches. This reinforces the idea that nowadays most people prefer to sit at home and wait for a guaranteed pre-order. That said, pre-orders have been frequently selling out since they went live, with the console so popular that Japan has already run out, prompting an apology from Nintendo. Unless you’re able to secure a pre-order within the next week, being first in line at Smyths may be your best shot at grabbing a Switch 2. Hopefully, things won’t get too rowdy. Are you willing to stay up till midnight to grab a Switch 2? (Smyths) Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy