While pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 are now available, it may be challenging to secure the new console before its June 5 release date if you haven’t already done so. Following a prolonged delay from the original April 9 pre-order date, Nintendo finally opened up pre-orders in the US and Canada on April 24. However, stock at third-party retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Best Buy quickly sold out just hours later. GameStop also opened up its pre-orders later that morning, only to meet the same fate, with the company later confirming that its online stock had been depleted as well.

Some users reportedly managed to pre-order the console through Walmart as recently as Saturday, April 26. Nevertheless, as of our latest update, the retailer has removed one of its Switch 2 pages entirely. Another listing is still live but out of stock. Currently, none of the other aforementioned retailers are accepting pre-orders. We will update this post if the situation changes, but for now, the only other retailer confirmed to be accepting pre-orders is Nintendo itself. The company will offer the Switch 2 through an invite system, for which registrations began on April 2. The first wave of invites will be sent out on May 8, although Nintendo has updated its pre-order page to warn that some individuals may not receive their pre-order email until after the June 5 launch date.

How to Pre-Order the Nintendo Switch 2

To pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2, you can try checking with third-party retailers like Best Buy, GameStop, and Target, although they are currently out of stock. Alternatively, you can register for Nintendo’s invite system, which will allow you to pre-order the console. It’s worth noting that the Switch 2 will utilize Nintendo’s new Virtual Game Card system for lending digital games across systems, as well as a GameShare feature that lets you share select titles locally with just one copy of a game.

Tariffs and the Nintendo Switch 2

During its recent Direct presentation, Nintendo showcased more of the Switch 2 than ever before, including the April 9 pre-order opening date and the original $450 starting price. However, following President Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs on China and other countries, Nintendo was forced to delay pre-orders in the US and Canada. In a subsequent reversal, President Trump announced a 90-day pause on steep tariffs affecting 75 countries, although the tariff imposed on China will increase to 145 percent. As a result, Nintendo has confirmed that the original $450 price for the Switch 2 will remain the same in the US and Canada, but the company may consider potential future price increases.

Nintendo has started moving some of its Switch console manufacturing to Vietnam, which may help the company stay on schedule despite the tariffs. The increased tariff for Vietnam was initially set at 46 percent but is currently on hold in favor of a 10 percent tariff during the 90-day pause period. It is speculated that Nintendo may boost production of Switch 2 consoles in Vietnam, even if it means selling the console at a loss in the short term. The company will need to significantly ramp up production to meet the high demand for the Switch 2, with 2.2 million people entering the pre-order lottery in Japan alone.