Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders: Latest updates as console remains sold out at GameStop, Walmart, Target, Best Buy and others

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are technically open in North America, but if you haven't managed to grab one already, you may have a tough time doing so before the console's June 5 release date. After what felt like a long delay from Nintendo's original April 9 pre-order date, the company finally opened up pre-orders in the US and Canada on April 24. A couple of (technically messy) hours later, stock at third-party retailers such as Walmart, Target and Best Buy promptly sold out. GameStop opened up its pre-orders later that morning and quickly met the same fate, with the company later confirming its online stock had dried up as well. 

Some users were reportedly able to order through Walmart as late as Saturday, April 26, but as of our latest update, the retailer has taken down one of its Switch 2 pre-order pages entirely. Another listing is still live but out of stock. For now, none of the other aforementioned retailers are currently accepting pre-orders either.

We'll update this post if that changes — particularly as Walmart opens up "Walmart+ Week" sales event — but right now the only other retailer confirmed to accept pre-orders is Nintendo itself. That said, the device maker is only offering the Switch 2 through an invite system, for which it began accepting registrations on April 2. The first wave of those invites will go out on May 8, though the company recently updated its pre-order page to say that some 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 as scheduled. Best Buy, Walmart and Target pre-orders opened at midnight, while GameStop's in-person and online pre-orders started at 11am. However, all of those retailers have either sold out of their stock or list the console as "coming soon" as of this writing. 

We also expect the Switch 2 to be available from Amazon some time in the future, but links are not live on the 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 will allow you to order the console, even if you have to wait until after the June 5 launch day. However, note that Nintendo says it will prioritize 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 gameplay time. (You'll also 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 it takes some time for your invite to arrive. 

Either way, 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 correct. 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

• Walmart

• GameStop

• Best Buy

• Target

• Amazon*

Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle

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