More Switch 2s Coming to Your Best Buy List
If you missed your chance to pick up a Nintendo Switch 2 early last month, your best chance to do so without breaking the bank is this week. As with most console releases of late, stocks of Nintendo’s new flagship system are still limited, so this price cut should come as a real relief to anyone looking to jump into the company’s next-gen gaming as soon as possible. What’s more, it coincides with the release of Nintendo’s first Switch 2-exclusive 3D platformer, Donkey Kong Bananza .
The restocking was made possible by Best Buy, which recently posted a surprise announcement on its website that the Switch 2 would be available in all stores this Thursday, July 17. The catch? They’ll only be available in stores, and while Donkey Kong Bananza is available for pre-order , the console itself isn’t available for reservations yet. That likely means you’ll have to wait in line on a first-come, first-served basis, though I’ve reached out to Best Buy for more information and will update this post once I hear back.
It’s also unclear what Nintendo Switch 2 bundles will be available. At launch, the Switch 2 was sold both on its own for $450 and in a bundle with Mario Kart World for $500, a $30 savings on a game that normally costs $80. I reached out to Best Buy again for details, but it’s possible the Mario Kart bundle won’t be part of Thursday’s restock.
Is now a good time to buy a Switch 2?
Whether this addition is worth queuing for depends on how loyal you are and which Nintendo franchises you’re most interested in. When I reviewed the Switch at launch , I was impressed by its power, battery life, and its slightly sleeker, more grown-up design, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it didn’t have much to offer the average gamer yet. At launch, it was (and remains) a great way to play Switch 1 games, actually improving their graphics and performance in some ways, but the library of exclusives was/is pretty limited. Picking one up at launch made sense if you were desperate for a new Mario Kart , but I’d advise others to hold off.
Now that Donkey Kong Bananza has joined the Switch 2 library, it might be time to splurge. This is the first 3D Donkey Kong platformer since the Nintendo 64, so fans of the uncontrollable ape should be happy. Plus, it’s notably a new game from the creators of the beloved Super Mario Odyssey . It’s sure to grab the attention of many a die-hard Nintendo fan, and I can see why they wouldn’t want to wait to play it.
Plus, picking up a Switch 2 now will ensure you’re ready for Metroid Prime 4 when it launches later this year. While that game will also be available on the original Switch, I got to play an early demo on the Switch 2 using the optional mouse controls, and I found it so intuitive that I’m not sure I’ll go back to it.
You have other options
That said, you probably won’t see any discounts during this restock or any other price cuts just yet, so I understand if you’re still hesitant. If you’re not willing to show up early to buy the console at full price, your Best Buy may be out of stock by the time you get there. So you might also want to try getting on Amazon’s waitlist (either for the console alone or as part of a Mario Kart World bundle ), though you may have to wait before you get an invite to buy that way.