Nintendo Switch 2 preorders are now available if you can find it in stock. Major US retailers like Walmart and Target kicked things off at midnight on April 24, along with every official Switch 2 game and accessory, followed up by GameStop the next morning.
So what's the latest stock update? Switch 2 preorders are out of stock everywhere in the US. But, it's not time to lose hope of securing the console before launch day, June 5, just yet.
At the time of publication, we're still getting reports of Walmart restocking in waves. While it looks to be region-dependent, so YMMV, it's still worth trying your luck there.
GameStop is out of stock online, but in-store preorders are still available. Moreover, the retailer also issued a statement saying it is currently cancelling bot orders, and plans to reopen its Switch 2 preorder inventory again soon.
While Nintendo has since issued warnings about its own stock levels and inability to meet demand, it's still another option to consider when trying to lock in a preorder. My Nintendo Store's preorder invites will be sent out on May 8 onwards.
Switch 2: Where to Preorder
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World
- See at Walmart - $499.00
- See at Target - $499.99
- See at GameStop - $499.99
- See at Best Buy - $499.99
Nintendo Switch 2
- See at Walmart - $449.00
- See at Target - $449.99
- See at GameStop - $449.99
- See at Best Buy - $449.99
When a major piece of gaming hardware goes up for preorder at a retailer, there’s no telling how long it will be available.
We’ve seen sought-after hardware sell out in seconds, and it's been no different for Switch 2 so far.
So, with demand at stratospheric levels for preorders, here are some key tips to improve your chances of getting the console at launch.
- Expect demand to be high across the board, this will not be easy.
- Keep this preorder guide ready with the retailer links above.
- Follow IGN Deals on X and Bluesky.
- Log in to retailer accounts: Walmart, Best Buy, etc.
- Have a credit card saved in your account.
- Be ready for virtual queues, site crashes, and checkout hiccups.
- Subscribe to our IGN Deals Email Newsletter.
- Opt into push notifications.
Nintendo Switch 2 Games: Where to Preorder
Nintendo Switch 2 is already building a stacked library of games, blending shiny new exclusives with upgraded re-releases of fan favorites.
Heavyweights like Donkey Kong Bananza ($69.99) and Mario Kart World ($79.99) are leading the charge, both available to preorder right now, alongside enhanced versions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, fine-tuned for the new hardware.
There's also a new version of Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby and the Forgotten Land currently up for Switch 2 preorder, alongside some new third-party selections like Cyberpunk 2077 and Sonic X Shadow Generations.
Where to Preorder Switch 2 Games
Every Switch 2 game that is available to lock in is listed above, with all the retailer links you’ll need right there as well.
For those who already own the games, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will cost $9.99 to upgrade from the original Switch 1 game to Switch 2 (or for free if you've already purchased the base game and are a Nintendo Online subscriber).
While Nintendo has also quietly confirmed the cost of upgrading Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Super Mario Party Jamboree to Switch 2: It's £16.99 / €19.99 / $19.99.
Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories: Where to Preorder
Nintendo hasn’t touched the price of the Switch 2 console itself, but almost every accessory has crept up in cost. In a recent update, the company confirmed that several Switch 2 peripherals will “experience price adjustments from those announced on April 2 due to changes in market conditions.” Read: Tariffs mean that pretty much everything is a little more expensive now.
Expect to pay an extra $5 for the main accessories, including the new Joy-Con 2 controllers, the Switch 2 Pro Controller, and the much-hyped camera add-on. The Dock Set sees the biggest jump, climbing $10 to $119.99.
Still, if you’re planning to pick up the full ecosystem at launch, above is the full list of accessories currently up for preorder, price hike or not, alongside every retailer you can preorder from just below as well.
Where to Preorder Switch 2 Accessories
Switch 2 Amiibos: Where to Preorder
We’ve also got a new batch of Nintendo Amiibo ready for Switch 2. Fans of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Street Fighter 6 can preorder a handful of brand new Amiibo from those games.
The side-scrolling carousel above has all the new Amiibo in it, but if any of them are sold out when you click to buy or you want more details, check out our full guide on everything available.
Switch 2: Latest News Updates
It’s been a chaotic few weeks for anyone in the U.S. trying to preorder the Nintendo Switch 2. Following a Switch 2-focused Nintendo Direct in early April, Nintendo was expected to open preorders on April 9.
But without much warning, the company delayed the rollout across the U.S. and Canada, citing the lingering effects of Trump-era tariffs and what it vaguely referred to as “evolving market conditions.”
That hasn’t stopped demand from skyrocketing. In Japan alone, Nintendo reported over 2.2 million preorder applications through the My Nintendo Store — far more than the available supply.
"However, this number far exceeds our expectations, and far exceeds the number of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles that can be delivered from the My Nintendo Store on June 5th. Therefore, unfortunately, we expect that a significant number of customers will not be selected when the winners are announced tomorrow, April 24th."
In North America, the situation is just as messy. Those lucky enough to secure a preorder are now reporting cancellations, particularly at major retailers like Target.
Walmart is still honoring most orders but has quietly updated delivery estimates, pushing some as far back as June 10 — despite originally promising delivery on launch day before 9 am.
Meanwhile, scalpers have already flooded eBay with listings well above retail price — some going for $600 or more. Interestingly, a counter-effort has emerged online, with users posting fake Switch 2 listings at MSRP in an attempt to disrupt resellers.
It's not just the US either, as preorders have also been temporarily wiped out in other regions, with depleted stock levels also affecting the UK, (follow @IGNUKDeals for updates).
What Each Retailer Offers and What to Expect Next
Preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 have officially gone live — and predictably, most listings sold out within minutes.
But if you missed the first wave, it’s worth knowing what each retailer had on offer, how they’re handling delivery and pickup, and what to expect if restocks drop or you’re eyeing a launch-day pickup.
TL;DR: Switch 2 Preorders - Retailer Guide
- Walmart: Fastest delivery promise — June 5 by 9am — if you ordered early enough.
- GameStop: Midnight launch pickups at select stores. In-store preorders started April 24; online at 11am EST. More stock expected soon.
- Target: Online-only preorders opened at 12am EST, April 24. Full lineup of games and accessories available.
- Best Buy: Preorders began April 24 at 12am EST. Midnight launch events planned; offered bundle options.
- Nintendo Store: Registration-based system; invites prioritized for long-time Switch Online members.
Walmart
Walmart made the biggest splash with its delivery promise: orders placed before launch day were scheduled to arrive by 9am local time on June 5. That’s an unusually aggressive guarantee, and unsurprisingly, stock vanished quickly. Interestingly, Walmart also undercut competitors slightly by listing the console at $499 flat, versus the standard $499.99 elsewhere.
Keep an eye out — if they restock closer to launch, expect more rapid sellouts.
GameStop
GameStop leaned hard into the launch day hype. Select stores will host midnight pickups, giving fans a chance to get their hands on the console the moment it drops. In-store preorders began when stores opened on April 24, while online orders went live at 11am EST the same day.
If you preordered in-store, you’re likely locked in for launch day — but if you missed it, midnight event availability could vary by location.
Target
Target’s preorders quietly opened online at midnight (EST) on April 24, with no in-store preorder options offered. Stock was thin, but they’ve done a solid job supporting the full ecosystem: games, accessories, and new Amiibo figures are all up for preorder.
If you’re still building your setup, this is one of the better places to look.
Best Buy
Best Buy also opened online preorders at 12am EST on April 24, and confirmed plans for midnight launch events at select stores. Details are still rolling out on which locations are participating.
One standout: Best Buy listed multiple Switch 2 bundles and accessory packages, offering a practical solution for those trying to grab everything at once. Stock sold out fast online, but there's a good chance bundles might return with limited restocks before June 5.
My Nintendo Store
Nintendo is using a registration-based preorder system via its official store. Priority access will be granted to Switch Online members with 12+ months of paid membership and 50+ gameplay hours as of April 2, 2025.
Invites are going out on a rolling, first-come-first-served basis from May 8 — so if you haven’t signed up yet, it might be too late for launch day, but worth registering in case post-launch inventory becomes available.
Switch 2 Preorders: What About Amazon?
The biggest question mark, however, is Amazon. As of this writing, the retail giant has no official listings for the Switch 2 — not the console, not its accessories, and only a few select games.
This isn’t an isolated case; over the past year, Nintendo products have quietly disappeared from Amazon’s U.S. storefront, including staples like Switch Online memberships and digital game codes.
Whether this signals a behind-the-scenes distribution snag or a strategic shift is unclear, but for now, it leaves would-be buyers without one of the most convenient ordering options.
What We Said in Our Switch 2 Preview
Here's what Logan Plant had to say in IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 preview: "Switch 2 is a more premium product and the price tag reflects that. It’s also a better version of a great thing, and it’s trying to pull off a bunch of cool new tricks at the same time, like mouse controls.
"Obviously we’re both buying Switch 2 on day one, and I did really love our hands-on time with the console. But I’ll be honest and say I have some concerns about if the general public is willing to adopt a $450 Nintendo console with an $80 Mario Kart.
"It’s a big ask for a company that traditionally targets families and younger players, and I feel like the high cost of entry limits the Switch 2’s potential to take off in the way its predecessor did.
"But for those of you that do decide to take the plunge, you’ll be getting what’s shaping up to be a great hybrid console that makes a ton of worthwhile improvements on the original Switch and adds some fun bells and whistles for good measure."
Other Preorder Guides
PSA: Donkey Kong Bananza doesn’t hit shelves until July 17, and big names like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A, both releasing this year, are still missing from preorder listings entirely on both Switch 2 and the current model.
This year is already shaping up to be an incredibly exciting release year for games. Alongside the Switch 2 and its games, there are plenty of other great titles releasing in the coming months that are worth keeping on your radar.
Below you can see more of our preorder guides covering exciting releases like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Doom: The Dark Ages, and more.
- Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Preorder Guide
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Preorder Guide
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Preorder Guide
- Doom: The Dark Ages Preorder Guide
- Elden Ring Nightreign Preorder Guide
- Metal Gear Solid Delta Preorder Guide
- Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Preorder Guide
- Silent Hill f Preorder Guide
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Preorder Guide
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Senior Editor, Commerce, for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter/X or Bluesky.
