As I sit down to write this piece at 11:30pm CT (well past my bedtime on a work night), I'm joining the global frenzy to pre-order the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-orders officially launched at 9pm PT/12am ET across three major retailers: Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. However, the rollout has been anything but smooth, leaving many, including a significant portion of the IGN staff and countless others on social media, facing a rollercoaster of challenges and emotions.

At Walmart, eager buyers were quickly placed into a digital queue, which moved forward for some, allowing them to secure a Switch 2 in their cart. Yet, others remain stuck on a "stay in line" screen with no clear timeline or assurance of success. Those who managed to progress encountered unexpected error messages or other issues:

Target, on the other hand, did not implement a queue system initially, leading to some early successes. However, this quickly turned sour as error screens plagued the purchase process. Some customers thought they had successfully pre-ordered, only to receive cancellation emails shortly after, forcing them to start over. Others found the Switch 2 mysteriously disappearing from their carts mid-process.

The Nintendo Switch 2 sold out instantly at Target. This is unreal bro. I refreshed on the second it turned 12 am. Actually unreal pic.twitter.com/LAQ4lC03qw

— Kenj (@Kenjdx) April 24, 2025

Best Buy faced its own set of challenges, with pre-orders delayed by half an hour, displaying a "Coming Soon" message before slowly admitting customers into a digital queue. While some are now receiving purchase confirmations, others are dealing with errors and the need to restart the process. Additionally, some are encountering fraud alerts from their banks, further complicating the pre-order experience.

2 minutes....
byu/trashpandacoot1 inSwitch

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }As I write, Target and Walmart have sold out, and while some are getting through at Best Buy, many, including myself, remain stuck in a seemingly endless queue. Others have received cancellation or delay notices with no new delivery dates or reorder options.

Target cancelled my order 10 minutes after placing
byu/syde1020 inSwitch

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }In the coming hours, more successes are expected, and there will be another chance to pre-order at GameStop starting at 11:00am ET today, both in-store and online. Additionally, some lucky Nintendo account holders might receive an email from Nintendo in May, offering a direct pre-order option, though this is not guaranteed due to high demand in Japan outstripping supply.

Bots are the worst
byu/CANfilms inSwitch

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }For those less invested in Nintendo or willing to wait, the chaos might seem trivial. However, for avid Nintendo fans, this follows a frustrating reveal and rollout process. The excitement of the Nintendo Switch 2's initial reveal was quickly overshadowed by concerns over the system's price, accessory costs, and subsequent pre-order pauses due to U.S. tariffs. The lack of clarity on pricing and content for both physical and digital software has only added to the confusion and frustration. With potential future price hikes and supply issues looming, the uncertainty around securing a Switch 2 near launch is deeply unsettling for many.

Yet, for those eager to dive into Mario Kart World at launch, navigating this pre-order chaos is the current reality. Here’s guidance for those still attempting to secure their pre-order.