UPDATE: May. 5, 2025, 4:00 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest on Nintendo Switch 2 preorder availability at major retailers. We've also added additional information to help readers track Switch 2 restocks.
The Nintendo Switch 2 preorder date came and went in the U.S. in late April. You probably didn't get one, but that doesn't mean all hope is lost.
After a brief delay due to President Donald Trump's tariffs, Nintendo Switch 2 preorders went live online at several major retailers on April 24, predictably crashing their websites. Within hours, preorder listings for the $449.99 console at Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart were all marked as "coming soon," "not available," or "out of stock." The same applied to listings for its $499.99 Mario Kart World bundle.
Those lucky enough to snag a Switch 2 preorder will be able to pick up their new console in person at Best Buy and GameStop as soon as it launches on June 5: Both retailers are planning on opening their stores at midnight ET that day. Meanwhile, Walmart is promising to deliver preorders made before June 4 at 8 a.m. ET for free by 9 a.m. local time on June 5 (while supplies last). We've reached out to a Target rep to find out if it has any launch day plans and will update this story if we hear back.
So far, we've only heard of one restock. According to several price trackers and Reddit threads, Walmart briefly restocked its Switch 2 inventory on Saturday, April 26. Since then? Nada.
If you want to smash that refresh button at the major retailers, you're welcome to try your luck, but there are better ways. Keep reading to find out how to preorder the Switch 2 at the My Nintendo Store and how to track restocks online.
How to preorder the Switch 2 at the My Nintendo Store
You can also try nabbing a preorder directly through the My Nintendo Store in May. Nintendo's online storefront will send out preorder invites to interested shoppers in waves starting Thursday, May 8; those with a Nintendo Account can register for access ahead of time on Nintendo's website.
Here's how it works: You go to Nintendo's website, log into an active Nintendo Switch Online account, and register your interest in a Switch 2 console or bundle. Starting on May 8 (and with other waves to follow later), eligible account holders will get email links to preorder a Switch 2 straight from Nintendo on a first-come, first-served basis.
There are, of course, a couple of weird catches to this. To be eligible, your Nintendo Switch Online account must meet the following requirements:
An active, paid Nintendo Switch Online account that's existed for at least 12 months
Your account must have 50 gameplay hours registered to it
This way, Nintendo knows you're not a filthy scalper bot. So, if you keep trying and failing with the major retailers, this is something to have in your back pocket just in case.
Shoppers will be notified via email when it's their turn to place a Switch 2 preorder, and they'll have 72 hours to do so. Preorders will be limited to one system per account.
Nintendo recently updated its preorder page to note that it's not guaranteeing release day deliveries "[due] to the very high demand," and that some invites may arrive after the official launch on June 5. (You'll receive a shipping date once you place your preorder.) The company encouraged shoppers to buy a Switch 2 from one of its retailer partners "[if] you wish to increase your opportunity of obtaining a Nintendo System 2 system at launch."
How to track Switch 2 restocks online
We recommend checking out Mashable reporter Alex Perry's in-depth guide to tracking Switch 2 restocks online. But to give you a tl;dr version, Perry says you can sign up for alerts to notify you of restocks via retailers like Walmart. However, that means you'll find out at the same time as everyone else, and these features are hit or miss.
For better luck, we recommend following inventory trackers on social media. Specifically, Jake Randall and Matt Swider on X; both have hundreds of thousands of followers and good reputations. In addition, follow Wario64, who can be found on X and BlueSky. This enigmatic operator tracks all kinds of stock alerts across the world of gaming. Wario64's covers a lot more than Switch 2 restocks, but Perry recommends the account personally, saying, "this account is how I got both a PS5 and Xbox Series X when those two consoles were hard to come by in 2020. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is one of the most important social media accounts in my life right now."
The new Nintendo Switch 2 console: All the details
The next-gen hybrid console retails for $449.99, making it $150 pricier than the original Switch from 2017 and $100 more expensive than the 2021 OLED model. It's also being sold as part of a limited-time $499.99 bundle that includes a download code for Mario Kart World, one of two exclusive launch titles.
The Switch 2 console will ship with the following accessories:
Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)
Joy-Con 2 Grip
Joy-Con 2 Straps
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock
Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable
Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter
USB-C Charging Cable
Our first-hand impressions of the Switch 2
Mashable reporter Alex Perry got to briefly play the Switch 2 at a recent Nintendo event, and he wrote at the time, “I can confirm that Switch 2 is noticeably more powerful than the original Switch.” Overall, he said it has a premium feel and impressive performance.
“From the first second I got to hold a Switch 2 unit, I instantly liked the way it felt in my hands. The 7.9-inch 1080p display (which supports HDR and 120Hz refresh rate) is substantially nicer than the 6.2-inch 720p display on the predecessor console. In addition to a bigger screen, the Joy-Cons also have some added muscle…Doing a cross-country race across Mario Kart World's gorgeous open world without even a hint of loading between tracks is awesome. Seeing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom run at a buttery smooth 60 frames per second is very convincing in person.”
How we got here
After pulling back the curtain on its new console during an April 2 Direct, Nintendo originally announced that Switch 2 preorders would open at select retailers on April 9. But two days later, the company said in a press statement that preorders were indefinitely delayed amid the Trump administration's new tariff policies and "evolving market conditions."
Nintendo eventually set the Switch 2's new preorder date in a mid-April press release — and in doing so, it confirmed that the Switch 2 and its bundle would not see a tariff-related price increase. Pricing for two of its upcoming standalone games, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, also remain unchanged at $79.99 and $69.99, respectively.
We haven't gotten away scot-free, though: "Nintendo Switch 2 accessories will experience price adjustments from those announced on April 2 due to changes in market conditions," Nintendo said. That includes the Switch 2 Pro Controller, Joy-Con controllers, a set of two Joy-Con 2 Wheels, and a Switch 2 Camera. The company also left the door open for future price adjustments "of any Nintendo product" if market conditions change.
All the Switch 2 launch titles and games you can preorder
We've already written about the Switch 2 launch titles we're most excited to play, but there are so many more titles you'll soon be able to experience. Technically, some of the most exciting games are not launch titles, so manage your expectations. However, considering most of us won't get a Switch 2 until weeks (or possibly months) after June 5, that's not the end of the world.
The biggest title is, of course, Mario Kart World.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch 2 Edition)
Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star Crossed World
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch 2 Edition)
Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighters Edition
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES Aiba Edition
All the Switch 2 accessories you can preorder
Below, we've listed the updated pricing for the Switch 2's accessories. Just over half of them are now available for preorder at major retailers alongside the console itself (linked when available):
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller — now $84.99, was $79.99
Joy-Con 2 Pair — now $94.99, was $89.99
Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip — now $39.99, was $34.99
Joy-Con 2 Strap — now $13.99, was $12.99
Joy-Con 2 Wheel Set — now $24.99, was $19.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Camera — now $54.99, was $49.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set — now $119.99, was $109.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector — now $39.99, was $34.99
Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case — now $84.99, was $79.99
Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter — now $34.99, was $29.99
