Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders Sell Out Within Minutes, Overload Retailer Websites

Pre-orders for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 went live on April 24—and were gone almost instantly. The massive demand overwhelmed websites of major retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart, making it difficult for many fans to secure the next-gen console.

High Traffic Causes Website Glitches 

 As soon as pre-orders opened, traffic spiked on multiple platforms. According to Downdetector, over 2,000 users reported being unable to access Target’s site for nearly 45 minutes. Best Buy faced even longer delays, with login issues accounting for 56% of the problems reported by users. Since Best Buy requires an account to make a purchase, many were stuck at the login screen and couldn’t proceed. 

Walmart users also faced slow loading times and unresponsive checkout pages as the retailer struggled to keep up with the surge. The urgency was amplified by prior delays in the Switch 2’s release, caused by U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports. 

Switch 2 Sells Out Almost Instantly 

Despite the digital hiccups, all three retailers sold out of their available Nintendo Switch 2 units within minutes. Fans rushed to complete purchases, but many were left disappointed as listings quickly went out of stock. 

Meanwhile, GameStop has also started accepting pre-orders, though availability is limited. Amazon, on the other hand, has yet to open any pre-order options for the console. 

Release Date Set, But Delivery May Lag 

Nintendo has announced that the Switch 2 will release on June 5, but due to overwhelming demand, not all pre-orders may be fulfilled on launch day. In Japan, the company has already notified customers that some may face delays in receiving their orders.