Midnight Mayhem: Pre-Orders for Switch 2 Are Here!

The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 made its debut for pre-orders just after midnight on Thursday, igniting a frenzy among gaming enthusiasts eager to secure the latest console before its official launch on June 5.

As fans flooded online stores, chaos erupted—while some managed to snag their pre-orders, many faced frustrating delays, site crashes, and listings vanishing before their eyes.

Social Media Outcry: Buyers Share Their Frustrations

Anxious customers took to social media, posting screenshots of error messages and abandoned shopping carts. In a cruel twist, what appeared to be confirmation emails turned into cancellations for some hopeful buyers.

Nintendo Responds: High Demand Acknowledged

Nintendo recognized the "very high demand" in an update, promising to work diligently on fulfilling orders but cautioning that delivery by release day may not be guaranteed. They encouraged gamers to check with participating retailers to increase their chances.

Retailers Struggle to Keep Up with Demand

Walmart, who launched their pre-orders at 6 AM CEST, confirmed that they sold out rapidly due to overwhelming demand. Best Buy and Target followed suit, quickly marking their listings as "out of stock" by early Thursday.

GameStop joined the fray later that day, offering both in-store and online pre-orders, but their inventory also evaporated within minutes. Site issues were reported due to the craze, prompting GameStop to reassure customers about their commitment to managing orders and battling bots.

Tariff Woes: Could Prices Rise?

The frenzy surrounding the Switch 2 comes during a turbulent time for the gaming industry, with new tariffs on electronics imposed by the U.S. government leading to concerns about rising consumer prices.

The launch price of the Switch 2 starts at $449.99—significantly higher than the original Switch's $299. While many exciting new features contribute to this price increase, experts fear that tariffs on imports will further drive costs up.

Aiming for a Comeback: Nintendo's Strategy with Switch 2

With its predecessor losing momentum, Nintendo is banking on the Switch 2 to revive interest in its consoles. After a revision in sales expectations, the company hopes to sell 11 million units this fiscal year, down from an initial 12.5 million.

Despite the price increases and delays, the excitement around these pre-orders highlights the strong love for Nintendo's gaming legacy. Will the Switch 2 be enough to reclaim the top spot in gaming?