Nintendo Switch 2 preorder guide: Everything you need to know now that listings are live
Nintendo Switch 2 preorders began to go live at major retailers on April 24. The console starts at $449.99 and is set for launch on June 5.
UPDATE: Apr. 24, 2025, 11:00 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest on Nintendo Switch 2 preorder availability at major retailers.
After a brief delay due to President Donald Trump's tariffs, Nintendo Switch 2 preorders went live online at several major retailers at midnight on Thursday, April 24, crashing their websites.
At the time of writing, Switch 2 preorder listings at Best Buy, Target, and Walmart were all marked as "coming soon" or "out of stock." Shoppers can sign up for restock notifications via email on their respective pages, or try their luck at GameStop instead: Its Switch 2 preorders went live at 11 a.m. ET and in stores as soon as they opened today. (Note that GameStop has the best trade-in deal if you don't want to hold onto an older Switch.)
The next-gen hybrid console retails for $449.99, making it $150 pricier than the original Switch from 2017 and $100 more expensive than the 2021 OLED model. It's also being sold as part of a limited-time $499.99 bundle that includes a download code for Mario Kart World, one of two exclusive launch titles. It's set for release on Thursday, June 5.
Those lucky enough to snag a Switch 2 preorder will be able to pick up their new console in person at Best Buy and GameStop first thing on launch day: Both retailers are planning on opening their stores at midnight ET on June 5. Meanwhile, Walmart is promising to deliver preorders made before June 4 at 8 a.m. ET for free by 9 a.m. local time on June 5 (while supplies last). We've reached out to a Target rep to find out if it has any launch day plans and will update this story if we hear back.
If you strike out today, the Switch 2 will also be available for preorder directly through Nintendo next month. The My Nintendo Store will send out preorder invites to interested shoppers in waves starting Thursday, May 8; those with a Nintendo Account can register for access ahead of time on Nintendo's website.
According to the fine print, priority invites will go to "registrants who have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership with a minimum of 12 months of paid membership and a minimum of 50 total gameplay hours, as of April 2, 2024." Shoppers will be notified via email when it's their turn to place a Switch 2 preorder and have 72 hours to do so. Preorders will be limited to one system per Nintendo Account.
If Switch 2 preorders wind up selling out everywhere, or if you don't get selected as part of Nintendo's lottery system, there are several ways to track availability online, per Mashable's Alex Perry.
The Switch 2 console will ship with the following accessories:
Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)
Joy-Con 2 Grip
Joy-Con 2 Straps
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock
Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable
Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter
USB-C Charging Cable
How we got here
After pulling back the curtain on its new console during an April 2 Direct, Nintendo originally announced that Switch 2 preorders would open at select retailers on April 9. But two days later, the company said in a press statement that preorders were indefinitely delayed amid the Trump administration's new tariff policies and "evolving market conditions."
Nintendo eventually set the Switch 2's new preorder date in a mid-April press release — and in doing so, it confirmed that the Switch 2 and its bundle would not see a tariff-related price increase. Pricing for two of its upcoming standalone games, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, also remain unchanged at $79.99 and $69.99, respectively.
We haven't gotten away scot-free, though: "Nintendo Switch 2 accessories will experience price adjustments from those announced on April 2 due to changes in market conditions," Nintendo said. That includes the Switch 2 Pro Controller, Joy-Con controllers, a set of two Joy-Con 2 Wheels, and a Switch 2 Camera. The company also left the door open for future price adjustments "of any Nintendo product" if market conditions change.
Below, we've listed the updated pricing for the Switch 2's accessories. Just over half of them are now available for preorder at major retailers alongside the console itself (linked when available):
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller — now $84.99, was $79.99
Joy-Con 2 Pair — now $94.99, was $89.99
Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip — now $39.99, was $34.99
Joy-Con 2 Strap — now $13.99, was $12.99
Joy-Con 2 Wheel Set — now $24.99, was $19.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Camera — now $54.99, was $49.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set — now $119.99, was $109.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector — now $39.99, was $34.99
Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case — now $84.99, was $79.99
Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter — now $34.99, was $29.99
