How to Track When Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders Go Back on Sale
After a delay caused by tariffs , retailers officially began pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 on Thursday . I can tell you that pre-orders went smoothly at all stores and that there was enough stock for everyone who wanted one of Nintendo’s new consoles. I could tell you this, but I would be lying.
The pre-order launch for the Switch 2 has never been smoother: the console has been hyped for eight years now, and fans want the chance to get their hands on Nintendo’s first console to play games in 4K resolution . However, the pre-order situation has been challenging, with endless digital queues, error screens and, in the case of Best Buy, even a late start. You may have emerged victorious from this chaos, but if you are reading this article, chances are fate has other plans for you.
Switch 2 supplies are currently very low. If you do a search online, you’ll likely see a few “Sold Out” or “Unavailable” warnings where there should be a “Buy Now” button. However, just because there are currently no more Switch 2 units in stores to reserve for you doesn’t mean they’ll be gone forever. Successfully pre-ordering the Switch 2 may come down to being in the right place at the right time – something you can plan for if you’re smart.
Tracking Switch 2 Restocking
There are four major retailers in the US offering pre-orders for the Switch 2, and at the time of this writing, none of them have any permanent stock in stock. However, they all offer some hope for customers looking to reserve a console: restock notifications.
Walmart, Target, GameStop and Best Buy all have the option to sign up for restock alerts on their websites. These vary by site: Walmart and Target require you to sign in to your associated accounts to sign up for notifications. GameStop offers email alerts, as does Best Buy, although the latter only appears to offer general Switch 2 news via email rather than product-specific restock alerts.
I have all the different product pages linked below. To maximize your chances, sign up for everyone’s alerts, but if you know you only want a console or that you prefer the Mario Kart World package (so you know you actually have something to play come June 5), stick to these rules:
You can also use a dedicated website to track Switch 2 restocks. There are many websites for this purpose, including RestockTracker , HotStock , and NowInStock .
Register for the Nintendo offer
Nintendo is also selling the Switch 2, but is not doing pre-orders. Instead, you can “register your interest” in purchasing a Switch 2 from the company. To qualify, you need a Nintendo Account with at least 50 hours of gameplay—as of April 2. It’s an odd requirement, but it’s designed to prevent scalpers from taking over all of your Switch 2s. (Nintendo doesn’t want you creating multiple Nintendo accounts and registering each one this month.)
Once you register your interest, Nintendo will list you on a first-come, first-served basis. Since you’re a little late to the game, you might be at the bottom of this list, but that’s okay: many of the customers who signed up may be vying for pre-orders at other stores as well, and if they get one, they might decline Nintendo’s invitation, bumping you up the queue. Currently, Nintendo says that shipments may extend beyond June 5, as well as the invitations themselves. However, it’s a great backup in case you can’t pre-order from other stores.