Here’s how Nintendo Switch 2 preorders will work

After years of rumors, Nintendo has finally announced a release date for the Switch 2. The long-awaited successor to the Switch will be available on June 5th for $449.99, bringing a handful of games and accessories along with it.

Nintendo initially announced the Switch 2 will be available for preorder in the US as both a standalone console and as a limited-edition bundle with Mario Kart World starting on April 9th for $499.99. But Nintendo has since pushed back that date, delaying preorders indefinitely even as it plans to maintain the console’s original release date. We’ll update this post accordingly when Nintendo reveals the new preorder date.

As predicted, the Switch 2 features a larger 7.9-inch LCD display, with support for 1080p resolution and HDR, 256GB of built-in storage, and up to 6.5 hours of battery life. The Joy-Cons are bigger, too, and now magnetically attach to the console instead of relying on a pair of sliding rails to snap into place. They also offer mouse-like functionality with select games, and the right Joy-Con sports a “C” button, which can be used for in-game chat features, screensharing, and other actions.

As for games, the Switch 2 will launch with Mario Kart World, along with third-party games like Split Fiction and Cyberpunk 2077. The console will also be backward-compatible with original Switch games and support enhanced versions of select titles, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

Below, we’ve rounded up all the preorder information you need if you want to be one of the first to get your hands on it. We’ll be updating this post regularly as more information becomes available, so bookmark this page if you’re keen on learning more ahead of the launch.

When can I preorder the Nintendo Switch 2?

Initially, Nintendo planned to launch preorders for the Switch 2 through third-party retailers on April 9th for $449.99. But the company has since announced that it’s delaying the start of preorders. Here’s the company’s statement, sent to The Verge by Eddie Garcia on behalf of Nintendo:

Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Nintendo will update timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged.

According to Nintendo, preorders are delayed due to concerns over President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, which were announced a few hours after the company revealed the April 9th preorder date. We don’t know exactly what that means and when Nintendo will open up preorders again, but we’ll update this post when we learn more information.

How to preorder via Nintendo

As expected, one of the few confirmed retailers right now is the My Nintendo Store, which comes with a string of eligibility requirements — one of which requires you to register your interest in advance. To do so, you’ll need to sign in with your Nintendo account and choose which console configuration you prefer (and which accessories). Then, you’ll receive an invitation email when it’s time to buy it, assuming you’ve satisfied several other conditions.

As of right now, the reservation process is limited to Nintendo account holders in the US and Canada who are at least 18 years old. Invitations will be valid for 72 hours and will be “prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis,” according to Nintendo; you’ll also need to have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership for a minimum of 12 months and have logged 50 hours of gameplay on the original Switch as of April 2nd, 2025, to be eligible. What’s more, you must have opted in to share gameplay data with Nintendo (you can see if you’ve done so in the privacy section when logged into your account).

Once invitations have been sent to account holders who have met these criteria, Nintendo says it will send invitations to “remaining eligible registrants” on a first-come, first-served basis. Unsurprisingly, the invitations will be nontransferable and sent to the email address you used while registering your interest with Nintendo. Console and accessory purchases will be limited to one per eligible account, at least during the initial invitation period, with the first batch of invitations going out on May 8th.

Additional invitations will follow periodically, though Nintendo hasn’t specified details beyond that.

How to preorder at Best Buy

Thankfully, if Nintendo’s strict requirements are an issue, the preorder process at Best Buy appears to be far more straightforward. Once preorders start, Best Buy will open up preorders via its Best Buy app and BestBuy.com. What’s more, most stores in the US will open at 12AM ET, 11PM CT, 10PM MT, and 9PM PT on June 5th for preorder pickup, signaling a welcome return to a more old-school, midnight release schedule we last saw prior to the pandemic.

Details are sparse beyond that; however, My Best Buy Plus and Total members can land a $20 certificate for every $150 they spend (up to $100) on Nintendo games and gear, which is a nice perk for members of Best Buy’s premium loyalty program. That privilege will run you at least $49.99 a year, though both membership tiers will also grant you access to exclusive discounts, free two-day shipping, and other perks.

We expect Best Buy to provide some more preorder information before they officially open — including details on whether the retailer intends to implement a queue system, as it did with the PlayStation 5 release. In the meantime, we recommend signing up to receive notifications regarding the Switch 2 and keeping an eye on Best Buy’s respective landing pages for the standalone console and the Mario Kart World bundle.

How to preorder at Walmart

Walmart hasn’t officially dished out many details regarding the Switch 2 launch, but the retailer has published dedicated landing pages for both the standalone Switch 2 ($449.99) and the Mario Kart World bundle ($499.99), along with games like Donkey Kong Bananza ($69.99) and the Switch 2 version of Breath of the Wild ($69.99).

How to preorder at Target

Target is in a similar camp to Walmart. The retailer has published retailer listings for both the standalone Switch 2 and the Mario Kart World bundle, along with listings for a handful of Switch 2 and Switch 2 Enhanced games. It hasn’t provided any additional details, however.

How to preorder at GameStop

GameStop has also confirmed that it will open preorders for the Switch 2 at an undisclosed time, and like Best Buy, you can sign up to receive notifications about the upcoming console, various games, and accessories. There are dedicated landing pages for the standalone console and the Mario Kart World bundle, too, in the event you prefer to keep tabs on the availability of either configuration yourself.

How to preorder elsewhere

Not all of the major retailers have provided any insight into how preorders will work when they open. Like with previous launches, we anticipate that Amazon will have limited stock of the console, as well. But despite Nintendo “taking risks” to ensure it can meet demands, reports indicate that US retailers might not have enough Switch 2 consoles to meet preorder demands. With any luck, Nintendo’s stringent reservation requirements and (potentially) those of other retailers will thwart any aspiring scalpers.

Update, April 4th: Nintendo has announced that preorders will no longer open in the US on April 9th. A new date hasn’t yet been announced, but the Switch 2 is still on track for its June 5th release. Stay tuned for updates as we get them.