I'm writing this at 11:30pm CT (way past my usual bedtime on a work night) while joining what feels like the entire global population - plus potential extraterrestrials - in attempting to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2.

Pre-orders launched at 9pm PT/12am ET across three major retailers: Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. In theory, at least - the actual rollout has been disastrous. Dozens of IGN staff members and countless consumers have been battling technical issues with varying degrees of success, while social media explodes with frustration, disappointment, and the occasional victory post.

The Retailer Breakdown

Walmart directed eager buyers into a digital queue system immediately. While some progressed through to successfully add the console to their carts, countless others remain stuck on indefinite "stay in line" screens with no progress indicators. Those who reached checkout reported confusing error messages like the example shown here.

Target initially appeared more promising without a queue system, but reports quickly surfaced of widespread checkout errors. Most heartbreaking were cases where buyers received confirmation emails only to have their orders canceled moments later. Others experienced the console mysteriously vanishing from their carts during checkout.

The Nintendo Switch 2 sold out instantly at Target. This is unreal bro. I refreshed on the second it turned 12 am. Actually unreal

— Kenj (@Kenjdx) April 24, 2025

Best Buy's pre-orders were delayed entirely, with the "Coming Soon" status persisting for thirty minutes before slowly admitting users into yet another queue system. While some confirmations are finally coming through now, others remain trapped in endless waiting rooms or facing the same checkout issues plaguing other retailers.

The Perfect Storm of Problems

Compounding issues, numerous buyers reported bank fraud alerts and payment processing errors creating additional hurdles. As this article was being written, both Target and Walmart officially sold out, while Best Buy's system still struggles to handle demand. Many early "successful" orders have since been canceled with no explanation.

Target cancelled my order 10 minutes after placing

Alternative Options Emerging

GameStop will open pre-orders today at 11:00am ET (both online and in-store), while select Nintendo account holders may receive direct purchase invitations in May. However, Nintendo has already warned that Japanese demand vastly exceeds supply projections.

Bots are the worst

A Frustrating Follow-Up to Confusing Announcements

This pre-order chaos compounds existing frustrations from Nintendo's opaque rollout strategy. Between sudden price adjustments due to tariffs, unclear software pricing structures, and minimal communication about launch details, dedicated fans feel particularly aggrieved by today's technical failures.

For those determined to play Mario Kart World at launch, this remains our current reality - a mad scramble against overwhelming demand and unreliable retail systems.