The imminent release of Nintendo’s greatly anticipated Switch 2 has many gamers on the edge of their seats. Some are already forecasting the company will move an amazing 20 million units in its first year alone. In the lead up to the midnight launch, retailers geared up for a wave of anxious customers looking to pick up their preorders. The rollout was far from by the book, and it left many candidates with a frustrating, confusing experience.
At precisely 12:01 a.m. ET on April 24, Switch 2 preorders became available online through major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Best Buy. That excitement soon morphed into frustration as shoppers faced multiple problems from the start, with site timeouts, error messages, and surprise email cancellations flooding in right away.
Best Buy’s preorder system was particularly overwhelmed. Customers were greeted with a digital queue that informed them, “You’re in line! Wait times can take up to a few minutes or longer, based on product demand. Next we’ll verify your account and check available inventory.” This note served to emphasize just how much demand there was at preorder launch. It acknowledged the terrible delays that countless people suffered during those first few hours.
I’ve heard the Switch 2 priced at $450, which so far hasn’t stopped people from wanting one. Nintendo has already gotten an unbelievable 2.2 million Japan Switch 2 preorder requests. These invites were requested via its My Nintendo lottery system. The company has since apologized for failing to deliver on all the space hoppers guaranteed by that lottery either. This has made it even more confusing for fans desperate to find their way in.
Even with the Switch 2 preorder madness though, some analysts are still bullish on how many copies the upgrade could sell. Assuming that Nintendo can increase production enough to satisfy demand, it’s likely that they’ll be able to reach their lofty sales targets of 20 million consoles sold. The excitement surrounding the console is palpable, even without any official announcements regarding new 3D Mario or Zelda titles designed specifically for the Switch 2.
Retailers are anxious to deliver good news retailers with the possibility of additional preorder inventory being released over a few weeks. This announcement will make many sad souls who weren’t able to place their orders on launch night hopeful again. Walmart’s message to potential buyers underscored this sentiment: “This deal is almost gone. This item is likely to sell out, but you can stay in line and we’ll let you know if any are available when it’s your turn.”
Best Buy experienced difficulties at the start of their preorder availability, with their system going live at approximately 12:29 a.m. ET. In spite of this, they are still required to complete orders as their inventory permits. Shoppers looking to purchase directly from Nintendo will have until May 8th to view their status. They’ll learn if they made it through the preorder lottery system.