Bumpy Debut for Nintendo Switch 2 Preorders

After a delay, the preorders for Nintendo Switch 2 have commenced in the United States. Yet, the process hasn't been smooth.

The much-anticipated preorders for the new Nintendo console began at midnight ET in the U.S.; however, the rollout wasn't without significant challenges.

Ordering Headaches at Retailers

Some consumers managed to secure orders via Target’s application, but others, including several Verge staff members, encountered obstacles. A number of users reached the final stage of checkout only to be met with errors preventing transaction completion. Specifically, the app would navigate users to Apple Pay but then request an address update, leading to a loop of address errors.

On Walmart’s platform, users found themselves in an ambiguous queue with messages indicating limited stock with phrases like, 'This deal is almost gone.'

Contrary to prior assurances of a midnight launch, Best Buy's page still displayed a non-functional 'coming soon' button for both the Switch 2 and its Mario Kart World package.

Launch Delays and Price Points

Initially, Nintendo had slated the U.S. preorder launch for April 9th, before the scheduled console release on June 5th. Unexpectedly, preorders were postponed owing to tariff-related concerns, with no immediate follow-up on the new activation date.

Ahead of the preorder commencement, a caution regarding the supply chain was issued by Nintendo's president, Shuntaro Furukawa, in Japan.

Recently, it was confirmed that the preorder price remains at $449.99 for the U.S. market, with a note that accessory prices would increase. However, preorders were already in progress in some regions, such as the UK, earlier this month.