The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 has finally dropped details on its release. Read on to find out how to pre-order the console!
Long-Time Switch Online Users Exclusive Pre-Order
For Switch Veterans
The release date for the Nintendo Switch 2 has officially been announced through yesterday’s Nintendo Switch 2 Direct—eager fans will want to mark their calendars for June 5, 2025. Additionally, pre-orders for the console through various retailers will begin as early as April 9, 2025.
With the handheld being highly anticipated even before its official release announcement, securing a pre-order slot through retailers may prove to be a challenge. However, Nintendo Switch Online users who, as of April 2nd, have purchased a membership to the service for a minimum of 12 months and have a minimum of 50 total gameplay hours across all their games have a chance to buy the console earlier and directly through Nintendo.
Eligible users can register their interest in pre-ordering through the official Nintendo website, and if chosen, an invitation email will be sent to the email address associated with the said Nintendo account when it is their time to purchase. Invitations are only valid for 72 hours, non-transferable, and priority will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, users who buy through the invites can only purchase one console and one unit of each optional accessory.
According to the site, orders will be shipped after purchase: "Your purchase window will be shown in your invitation email and your approximate ship date will be provided at time of ordering." They also noted that delivery on release day is not guaranteed "due to processing and shipment times."
A Move To Lessen Scalping
This method of pre-ordering with prerequisite requirements may be a measure to lessen scalpers from obtaining multiple quantities of the product and reselling them at ridiculous prices. Scalpers have been a problem across all forms of media. They have been seen as problems during the release of the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X|S, as well as the Pokémon Company’s own Pokémon Trading Card Game, causing shortages due to low supply in market price.
This requirement-based measure of verifying whether or not a user was a player or a scalper may have been based on the Steam Deck’s initial release in July 2021, where Steam accounts needed to adhere to a certain criterion before even entering the 48 hour pre-order queue. According to Valve, these Steam accounts needed to have made a purchase on the platform before June 2021. Once that was verified, eager users would have needed to pay a $5 reservation fee, and could only purchase one console.
Physical Retailers Have Switch 2 Pages
Should players not meet the requirements for the Nintendo-helmed pre-order or would like to be able to pick-up the console physically, one can also pre-order the console directly from physical stores like Walmart, Best Buy, and GameStop. As of writing, these stores have the Nintendo Switch 2 order pages already made publicly available. Though do keep in mind that pre-orders will not begin until April 9, 2025.
| Nintendo Switch 2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Walmart |
 Best Buy |
 GameStop |
|||
| $449.99 | |||||
| Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart |
Best Buy |
||
| $499.99 | |||
Source:
How to Buy From the My Nintendo Store
Walmart Official Website
Best Buy Official Website
