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

Date: Fri, 02 May 2025 17:16:24 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nint...

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 an order already. To recap the current situation: After an
extended delay from the device's original April 9 pre-order date, Nintendo
finally kicked off pre-orders in the US and Canada on April 24. A couple of
headache-inducing hours later, stock at third-party retailers such as
Walmart, Target and Best Buy sold out. GameStop began taking orders later
that morning but quickly met the same fate.

Some eagle-eyed buyers were reportedly able to pre-order through Walmart as
late as Saturday, April 26, but that retailer has since taken down one of its
Switch 2 pages entirely, with the other listing out of stock. As of our
latest update, none of the other stores mentioned above are accepting pre-
orders either.

We're keeping an eye out for whenever that changes, but right now the only
other retailer that we know will have pre-orders is Nintendo itself, via its
My Nintendo Store. That said, the device maker will only offer the Switch 2
through an invite system. It began accepting registrations for that on April
2, with the first wave of invites set to roll out on May 8. However, the
company updated its site 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. Best Buy's, Walmart's and
Target's pre-orders began at midnight ET, while GameStop's in-person and
online pre-orders started at 11am ET. As of our latest sweep, though, the
console remains either sold out or listed as "coming soon" at all of those
stores.

We expect the Switch 2 to be available from Amazon some time in the future,
but it's not yet, and there's been no indication as to when that might
change. 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 just yet.

At this point, 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. (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.) 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 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. We'll continue to update this post as time goes on with the
latest Switch 2 pre-order info.

Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Walmart

Amazon*

Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle

Nintendo

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Amazon*

*As of 1:15pm ET on Friday, May 2, 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, the Switch 2 has several accessories and new games that you can
pre-order separately. While Nintendo didn't adjust the console's pricing upon
announcing its revised pre-order date, it did raise the cost of several
accessories. The new Switch 2 camera, for one, now costs $55 instead of its
original $50, while the new Switch 2 Pro Controller costs $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 now costs $40 instead of $35. You can check out
Nintendo's official statement from April 18 for all of these price
adjustments.

Broadly speaking, most of those accessories are still up for grabs at one or
two retailers at a minimum, but stock has become spottier since their initial
pre-order date. Upcoming first-party 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*

*As of 1:15pm ET on Friday, May 2, 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. The 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
thatΓÇÖs 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/nint...
latest-updates-on-restocks-from-retailers-like-gamestop-walmart-target-and-
best-buy-140931428.html?src=rss

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