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The window for Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders is technically open, but you may have a tough time grabbing the console before its June 5 release date if you haven't secured one already. As of our latest sweep, the device remains fully out of stock at Walmart, GameStop, Best Buy, Target and other retailers. This has (mostly) been the case since pre-orders first went live in the US on April 24, and it remains unclear when things will change.
Right now, your best hope might be to order through Nintendo itself, as the console maker says it'll start accepting pre-orders at its My Nintendo Store on Thursday, May 8. That said, the company is only offering the Switch 2 through an invite system. It's been accepting registrations for that since April 2, and it's prioritizing invites for past Switch players and Switch Online subscribers first. So if you're just registering today, don't be surprised if your invite doesn't arrive until some time after the initial batch. Nintendo even updated the language on its pre-order page last month to note that some invite emails may not arrive until after the console's release date.
Nevertheless, we're keeping an eye out for any surprise restocks that may pop up. If you're still hoping to get your hands on the device early, we've rounded up all the Switch 2 pre-order listings we could find for easy access and broken down what you should know about buying the console below.
How to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2
After a two-week delay, Nintendo finally kicked off Switch 2 pre-orders in the US and Canada at midnight ET on April 24. A couple of (technically sloppy) hours later, stock at third-party retailers such as Walmart, Target and Best Buy promptly sold out. GameStop began taking pre-orders at 11am ET that morning but quickly met the same fate. Some eagle-eyed buyers were reportedly able to pre-order through Walmart as late as April 26, but as of this writing, the console remains either sold out or listed as "coming soon" at all of the stores above.
We assume the Switch 2 will be available from Amazon in the future, but it's not right now, and there's been no indication as to when that might change. (Even before the Switch 2 was unveiled, stock of the original Nintendo Switch and first-party Switch games had been limited at Amazon US for several months.) Other membership-based stores like Costco and Sam's Club have posted Switch 2 listings as well, but we haven't seen anything to suggest they will accept pre-orders. Newegg also has a Switch 2 page but hasn't provided an option to buy just yet.
As noted above, 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 lets you order the console, even if you have to wait until after the June 5 launch day. Just note 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 as of April 2, 2025. (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.) Nintendo says it'll send invites to other registrants after those who meet this "priority criteria" receive their emails. Whenever you get an invite, you'll have 72 hours to make your purchase.
If you're desperate to catch a restock, it's a good idea to create free 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.
Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
*As of 12:00pm ET on Tuesday, May 6, 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, there are numerous Switch 2 accessories and games up for pre-order as well. While Nintendo hasn't changed the console's price since delaying its initial pre-order date, it did hike the cost of several accessories due to "changes in market conditions" (read: tariffs). The new Switch 2 camera, for one, now costs $55 instead of its original $50, while the Switch 2 Pro Controller is priced at $85 instead of $80. An extra set of Joy-Con 2 controllers is up to $95 from $90, and the official Joy-Con Charging Grip costs $40 instead of $35.
Most (but not all) of the Switch 2's accessories are still up for grabs at one or two retailers at a minimum, but stock has become spottier since they first went up for sale. Upcoming Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, meanwhile, remain widely available.
Mario Kart World for $80
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Donkey Kong Bananza for $70
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Additional Switch 2 games
Nintendo
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
Amazon
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*
Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector for $40
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
*As of 12:00pm ET on Tuesday, May 6, Amazon has not listed any first-party Switch 2 accessories or games for sale. (Some third-party devices and games are listed, however.) We'll 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 than the original and take a new approach to the detachable Joy-Cons. The new controllers now attach magnetically and include a C button, mouse controls, plus a built-in gyroscope for tilt control. The device itself is indeed 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 has a built-in fan to keep the console cool and help maintain performance during long play sessions. Though we won't know exactly how much of a power upgrade the device is compared to the original Switch until it's released, it looks to be fairly significant leap, given that it'll have ports of fairly demanding games like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077.
Elsewhere, Switch 2 has dual USB-C ports for charging, and the internal storage amount has jumped from 32GB to 256GB. The Switch 2's storage can be expanded as before, but it'll only work with newer (and more expensive) 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's temporarily on hold in favor of a 10 percent tariff that’s 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-the-latest-updates-on-restocks-from-retailers-like-walmart-gamestop-target-and-best-buy-140931706.html?src=rss
Right now, your best hope might be to order through Nintendo itself, as the console maker says it'll start accepting pre-orders at its My Nintendo Store on Thursday, May 8. That said, the company is only offering the Switch 2 through an invite system. It's been accepting registrations for that since April 2, and it's prioritizing invites for past Switch players and Switch Online subscribers first. So if you're just registering today, don't be surprised if your invite doesn't arrive until some time after the initial batch. Nintendo even updated the language on its pre-order page last month to note that some invite emails may not arrive until after the console's release date.
Nevertheless, we're keeping an eye out for any surprise restocks that may pop up. If you're still hoping to get your hands on the device early, we've rounded up all the Switch 2 pre-order listings we could find for easy access and broken down what you should know about buying the console below.
How to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2
After a two-week delay, Nintendo finally kicked off Switch 2 pre-orders in the US and Canada at midnight ET on April 24. A couple of (technically sloppy) hours later, stock at third-party retailers such as Walmart, Target and Best Buy promptly sold out. GameStop began taking pre-orders at 11am ET that morning but quickly met the same fate. Some eagle-eyed buyers were reportedly able to pre-order through Walmart as late as April 26, but as of this writing, the console remains either sold out or listed as "coming soon" at all of the stores above.
We assume the Switch 2 will be available from Amazon in the future, but it's not right now, and there's been no indication as to when that might change. (Even before the Switch 2 was unveiled, stock of the original Nintendo Switch and first-party Switch games had been limited at Amazon US for several months.) Other membership-based stores like Costco and Sam's Club have posted Switch 2 listings as well, but we haven't seen anything to suggest they will accept pre-orders. Newegg also has a Switch 2 page but hasn't provided an option to buy just yet.
As noted above, 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 lets you order the console, even if you have to wait until after the June 5 launch day. Just note 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 as of April 2, 2025. (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.) Nintendo says it'll send invites to other registrants after those who meet this "priority criteria" receive their emails. Whenever you get an invite, you'll have 72 hours to make your purchase.
If you're desperate to catch a restock, it's a good idea to create free 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.
Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
*As of 12:00pm ET on Tuesday, May 6, 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, there are numerous Switch 2 accessories and games up for pre-order as well. While Nintendo hasn't changed the console's price since delaying its initial pre-order date, it did hike the cost of several accessories due to "changes in market conditions" (read: tariffs). The new Switch 2 camera, for one, now costs $55 instead of its original $50, while the Switch 2 Pro Controller is priced at $85 instead of $80. An extra set of Joy-Con 2 controllers is up to $95 from $90, and the official Joy-Con Charging Grip costs $40 instead of $35.
Most (but not all) of the Switch 2's accessories are still up for grabs at one or two retailers at a minimum, but stock has become spottier since they first went up for sale. Upcoming Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, meanwhile, remain widely available.
Mario Kart World for $80
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Donkey Kong Bananza for $70
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
Additional Switch 2 games
Nintendo
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
Amazon
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*
Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector for $40
Nintendo
Walmart
GameStop
Best Buy
Target
Amazon*
*As of 12:00pm ET on Tuesday, May 6, Amazon has not listed any first-party Switch 2 accessories or games for sale. (Some third-party devices and games are listed, however.) We'll 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 than the original and take a new approach to the detachable Joy-Cons. The new controllers now attach magnetically and include a C button, mouse controls, plus a built-in gyroscope for tilt control. The device itself is indeed 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 has a built-in fan to keep the console cool and help maintain performance during long play sessions. Though we won't know exactly how much of a power upgrade the device is compared to the original Switch until it's released, it looks to be fairly significant leap, given that it'll have ports of fairly demanding games like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077.
Elsewhere, Switch 2 has dual USB-C ports for charging, and the internal storage amount has jumped from 32GB to 256GB. The Switch 2's storage can be expanded as before, but it'll only work with newer (and more expensive) 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's temporarily on hold in favor of a 10 percent tariff that’s 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-the-latest-updates-on-restocks-from-retailers-like-walmart-gamestop-target-and-best-buy-140931706.html?src=rss
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