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

While Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are technically open, you may have a tough time grabbing the new console before it's June 5 release date if you haven't secured one already. After an extended delay from the device's original April 9 pre-order date, Nintendo 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, later confirming that its online stock had dried up as well. 

Some users were reportedly able to pre-order through Walmart as recently as Saturday, April 26, but as of our most recent update, the retailer has taken down one of its Switch 2 pages entirely. Another listing is still live but out of stock. As we write this, none of the other aforementioned retailers are accepting pre-orders either.

We'll update this post if that changes, but right now the only other retailer confirmed to accept pre-orders is Nintendo itself. That said, the console maker will only offer 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 updated its pre-order page last week to say that some people 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's, Walmart's and Target's pre-orders opened at midnight, while GameStop's in-person and online pre-orders started at 11am ET. However, all of those retailers have either sold out of their stock or currently list the console as "coming soon." 

We expect the Switch 2 to be available from Amazon some time in the future, but links are not live on that 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, 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 your invite doesn't arrive until some time after the initial May 8 batch. 

In any event, 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

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• GameStop

• Best Buy

• Target

• Walmart

• Amazon*

Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle

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• Walmart