Nintendo Switch 2 Preorders Are Gone and Gamers Are Losing It

It’s official: Nintendo Switch 2 preorders are sold out everywhere—and if you blinked, you probably missed them. That’s not even an exaggeration. Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and GameStop? Wiped clean before most of us could finish our morning coffee.

Trying to score a Switch 2 this week has felt like competing in a Mario Kart blue shell race—except everyone got hit but one lucky dude who somehow walked out with five. And yes, we’re all side-eyeing him.

The Pre-order Stampede

The frenzy kicked off early Thursday morning, with stock disappearing faster than a limited-edition Zelda amiibo. GameStop, in particular, opened its digital gates at 11 AM ET—and closed them a few hours later after declaring a full sell-out. Poof. Gone. No “add to cart,” no second chances. Even worse, most retailers haven’t confirmed if or when more pre-order slots will open. If you’re still trying to refresh pages or get that sweet “back in stock” alert, good luck. You’ll need it.

So, Is There Still Hope?

Technically, yes—but only if you’re already in Nintendo’s good books. You can still sign up for direct pre-orders from Nintendo, but it’s like trying to get into the Mushroom Kingdom with no power-ups.

To even qualify, you need:

• At least 50 hours of gameplay logged on the original Switch (as of April 2nd, 2025)
• A 12-month active Switch Online membership

Basically, if you’ve just been using your Switch as a fancy YouTube machine or haven’t touched it since Animal Crossing fever died down, you’re probably not getting that golden ticket anytime soon. Nintendo says it’ll start sending out the first wave of invites on May 8th, gradually letting more players in. But even then, there’s a twist—you might not receive your Switch 2 on release day (June 5th) because demand is straight-up bananas.

And it’s not just the U.S. seeing the chaos. Over in Japan, Nintendo had to send out an official “sorry, we can’t fulfil all your dreams” statement because of the overwhelming response. Brutal.

Switch 2 Hype: Real or Overkill?

Now, before you say this is all just another classic case of gamer FOMO, let’s talk specs. The Switch 2 is shaping up to be more than just a cosmetic glow-up. Rumours (and leaks) point to DLSS support, upgraded Joy-Cons, new camera tech, and 120Hz refresh rates.

It’s not just a “slightly better screen” update—it’s Nintendo’s next big move in staying competitive with Sony and Microsoft. And judging by the pre-order stampede, it’s working.

Even the price tag, a spicy $449.99, hasn’t deterred fans. Sure, some eyebrows were raised, especially after Nintendo confirmed they’re also bumping prices on accessories like the Pro Controller, Switch 2 camera, and Joy-Con 2. But when your fanbase includes people who’ve bought Mario Kart 8 five times across two consoles, you know loyalty runs deep.

The Internet Reacts

Naturally, the internet responded in peak gamer fashion—by posting memes, TikToks, and unhinged comments like “I sold my GPU for this” or “Guess I’m playing on my 3DS until 2026.” The drama has been real, but the coping mechanisms? Absolutely elite.

Reddit threads have turned into support groups. Discord servers are now digital war rooms. And every Twitter (sorry, X) user who got in is suddenly acting like they won a Willy Wonka ticket. We’re not bitter. You’re bitter.

If you didn’t get in, you’ve got three options:

1. Keep refreshing those retailer pages like your life depends on it.
2. Hope Nintendo’s next wave of invites includes your Switch Online ID.
3. Accept your fate and start preparing for emotional damage on June 5th.

Or maybe… just maybe… Nintendo pulls a surprise and restocks before release. Until then, may your Wi-Fi be strong and your page loads be swift.