It’s been quite the turbulent week since the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct went live to the world. Between preorder date hiccups in dramatic international events, controversial pricing and the intricacies of a rather complicated product, reporters and gamers are scrambling to make sense of what’s happening with the Switch 2 console and its games as new information gets discovered faster than a Pegasus boots run across town. Unfortunately, plenty of incorrect information has now run rampant online. For better or worse, the Switch 2 has certainly sustained a historic albeit bumpy kickoff.
Here’s what we know at the time of this writing. Switch 2 console preorders are now open in European countries and are quickly being sold out at retailers in the UK and other areas according to eyewitness accounts. Preorders in Japan are scheduled for April 24. And preorders are currently paused for customers in the United States and Canada, but fret not. The Big N assures that priority for preorders will go to dedicated Nintendo Switch Online members. In order for that to happen, they must sign up on a wishlist. Customers in those areas who are already Nintendo Account holders can register their interest in purchasing a Switch 2 on Nintendo’s website. The first batch of invitations to preorder will release May 8, 2025 with additional waves to follow until console purchases are open to the public on the My Nintendo Store website. There are certain qualifications to be mindful of, however, in an attempt to curtail scalpers and make preordering fair for the good actors who have signed up:
Once a signed up customer receives their email, they have three days to purchase the preorder in full via Visa, MasterCard, Google Pay or Apple Pay online through the My Nintendo Store checkout portal. Nintendo eShop gift cards are not eligible. So if you’re planning to sign up, now is the time to save your hard-earned money for May 8. A signup lottery is available in Nintendo Japan, though so many are flocking there that Nintendo has experienced recent technical site issues. Other retailers such as Best Buy and GameStop are also taking Switch 2 wishlist signups, though little information is known about them at this time.
In light of all this, it’s at least reassuring that Nintendo has not forgotten about their dedicated gamers with the Switch 2. June 5th still stands as the global launch date for the console, as well as Mario Kart World, The Wind Waker via Nintendo Switch Online, and Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom for the Switch 2. You can see a list of the featured games coming to the Switch 2 here.
