Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders: The latest updates on restocks from retailers like Walmart, GameStop, Target and Best Buy

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are 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 is still completely 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 it'll change.

Right now, your best hope might be to order through Nintendo itself, as the console maker is set to 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 an 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 messy) hours later, stock at third-party retailers such as Walmart, Target and Best Buy promptly sold out. GameStop began taking pre-orders online and in-store 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 each of the stores above.

We assume the Switch 2 will be available from Amazon in the future, but it's not today, 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 on Amazon for several months in the US.) 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 isn't offering an option to buy.

As noted above, we recommend signing up via Nintendo's website if you haven't yet. 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. Once you receive 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