Some gamers are frustrated over not being able to secure the new Nintendo Switch 2 when pre-orders opened, after platforms experienced technical issues on Thursday.
The new Nintendo console is only set to hit stores by June 5, but its pre-order period opened on Thursday at the official My Nintendo Store and selected retailers, including Best Buy, GameStop, Amazon, and Walmart.
This morning, millions of people worldwide joined the line to try and secure the new console, causing a series of glitches on retail websites.
Minutes after announcing the opening of the pre-sale, GameStop made a post on X warning customers that it was facing issues due to “overwhelming demand,” and that its technical team was working to solve the glitches.
We’re seeing overwhelming demand for Switch 2, which is causing some site issues. In-store pre-orders are open and running smoothly.
— GameStop Help (@GameStopHelp) April 24, 2025
Our team is actively working to fix it. Hang in there—we’ll keep you posted.
In response, gamers took to social media to share their frustrations over long wait times and not being able to pre-order the Switch 2 at all because of the issues.
“I had been ‘in line’ at Walmart for 2.5 hours. Best Buy crashed. Couldn’t check out on Target. So I reloaded Walmart because it hadn’t changed since the queue opened. No longer in line. Saw ‘1 left!’ under Switch 2. Added to cart, paid, and secured the bag. Never give up, guys,” one user said.
“Average Switch 2 preorder experience: Something went wrong. Something went wrong. Something went wrong. Something went wrong. Something went wrong. Something went wrong. Something went wrong. Something went wrong,” another user joked.
“I still can’t believe I spent two hours pressing ‘place order’ at Costco Canada, getting the same error page over and over again, expecting a different outcome to occur if I kept going,” a different user also said.
FAILED BOYCOTT
Although its launch was only announced in January, the Switch 2 is already surrounded by other polemic takes.
Earlier this month, Nintendo announced the prices for the new game console, which will cost Americans about $449 USD and Canadians $629 CAD.
The price difference caused frustration among many Canadian gamers, who at the time said they would wait for prices to drop or even refrain from buying it altogether.
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But as pre-sale orders opened today, many users were surprised to see that retail websites were completely flooded with customers looking to buy the console, even after many called for boycotts over high prices.
“All that complaining and b***ing on Twitter about prices and Nintendo just for the Switch 2 to sell out any immediately,” one user said on X.
“Love how the ‘boycott Nintendo’ mindset after the Switch 2 reveal immediately disappeared once preorders opened up. All I see now is people grabbing it, some even CAMPING at Gamestop to get one,” another user commented.
“Where are the people who insisted the Switch 2 would have poor release day sales because of its price. Just curious what they’re thinking tonight,” a different user chimed in.
