Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders officially kicked off in the US last week, with both sides of the pond now hunting down the next wave of stock. With retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and GameStop all having released their first wave of handhelds things could be a little quiet. There's still hope on the horizon, though - the UK is in its fourth week of pre-orders now and I'm still seeing bundles hitting the shelves every now and then.
All eyes are on Newegg, the only US store that I've seen to list the Nintendo Switch 2 but not actually drop its pre-order stock yet. Meanwhile, we're still waiting for new drops from Very and Argos in the UK, the two biggest pre-order destinations so far, but I've seen promising movement from The Game Collection and Amazon over the last few days as well.
I've been tracking hard-to-find stock for over five years now. It all started when the PS5 and Xbox Series X were near-impossible to pre-order back in 2020. Since then, I've been covering high profile releases, tracking which retailers drop new stock the most frequently (and how to make the most of it when they do). That means I know where to look next and, crucially, what you can do to end up with an email confirmation at the end of it.
Quick Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order links
- Walmart: Check for stock
- GameStop: Check for stock
- Best Buy: Check for stock
- Target: Check for stock
- Amazon: No product page yet
- Nintendo: Register for invitation
- Newegg: Listing pages live
UK
- Amazon: Check stock
- The Game Collection: Check stock
- ShopTo: Check for stock
- Ebuyer: Check for stock
- EE: Check for stock
- Argos: Check for stock
- Very: Check for stock
- Game: Check stock
- Currys: Check for stock
- Nintendo: Check for stock
I started tracking high-demand pre-orders back when the PS5 and Xbox Series X first launched and have covered everything from the PS Portal to 30th Anniversary limited edition runs since then. I know which retailers to watch for new stock drops, when those restocks are likely to happen, and how to make sure you finish up with a console in your hands on day one.
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the US
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the UK
When is the Nintendo Switch 2 release date?
The Nintendo Switch 2 will officially land on the shelves on June 5, with some retailers offering guaranteed release day delivery. However, as stock has already shifted off the shelves some stores are pushing their shipping timelines further back.
Should you pre-order Nintendo Switch 2?
If you missed out on the first wave of Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders, you may be wondering what the fuss is all about. The Switch 2 is a more powerful handheld capable of running new exclusive games (and most of the old Switch catalog) much better in both handheld and docked mode, with a few extra fancy features up its sleeve as well.
Considering the speed these devices are selling at, you'll want to get a pre-order locked in as soon as possible if you want a handheld on the very day it releases. We don't know how long delivery will take when buying it direct on launch day, and some stores are still guaranteeing that release window. That said, stock is difficult to find right now so you'll need to join the hunt.
If you know you'll ultimately end up upgrading to the Switch 2, but still have a capable handheld and a backlog of titles to get through, that pre-order isn't quite so urgent. However, I would warn against leaving it in the hopes of a cheaper price come the holidays. Nintendo hardware holds its value for an exceedingly long amount of time, and considering all the tariff troubles I'm expecting we won't see a price cut for some time yet.
Live updates
Let's talk about Argos
Argos sold out of Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders much slower than other retailers, holding that stock for a good day before finally giving way. I would still recommend keeping a close eye on this store, though, for one reason.
All that lovely stock is organized by post code. That means UK stock hunters have a much smaller competition pool when hunting down new pre-order opportunities. You're only racing those in your local area to your store's supply.
I don't think Argos is out for the count yet. Considering there's still just over a month left before that June 5 release date, there's plenty of time for more availability to show up.
Nintendo Switch 2 | Check stock at Argos
Can you pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 in-store?
It's all very quiet online right now, but if you're getting impatient it's well worth heading into a few stores. I know for a fact that GameStop is offering these in-person orders in the US, and Currys is your go-to in the UK. The latter is only running its pre-orders through its brick and mortar locations.
Where to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera
Getting ready for the full online multiplayer Mario Kart experience from day one? You'll need to grab yourself a lens first.
Walmart is also out of stock on the Nintendo Switch 2 camera, but Best Buy has swooped in to save the day again. The $54.99 device is available to pre-order right now via the yellow-label store, with both pickup and shipping available for release day.
Nintendo Switch 2 Camera | $54.99 at Best Buy
The UK is still covered by Very here, with the £49.99 camera available to pre-order with delivery set for June 5.
Nintendo Switch 2 Camera | £49.99 at Very
PSA: Nintendo's invites don't ship until May 8
If you've registered for a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order via the brand's own Nintendo Store you might get another shot at stock. Those email invitations will only be sent out starting May 8 (and only to those who meet the criteria of hours played and length of NSO subscription).
There's no need to panic thinking you've been missed off the list already. While Nintendo doesn't guarantee everyone will be invited next month, and has more recently explained that even its own store won't guarantee launch day delivery, we've still got a week to go before Ninty makes its move.
Where to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is also available for pre-order right now, and its stock is holding out a little better than the handheld.
Best Buy is your go-to in the US after Walmart ran out of stock towards the end of last week. There, you'll find the updated Pro Controller available for $84.99 with shipping by release day.
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller | $84.99 at Best Buy
Over in the UK, you'll want to head to Very, with delivery set for June 5 and a seemingly endless supply of stock available.
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller | £74.99 at Very
Top Tip: If listings appear at this UK retailer we're in for a good time
Very only ever lists the Nintendo Switch 2 when it has inventory to shift, so if you spot bundles on the shelves (even if they're slated as unavailable) it's go time. I haven't seen it for a while now, but it's worth remembering while you're out hunting for stock.
Nintendo Switch 2 | Check stock at Very
Amazon US might not have Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders at all
If you spend some time digging through Amazon US's Nintendo listings you'll notice something strange. Pretty much nothing is actually sold direct via the retailer, and hasn't been for some time.
I first noticed it over Black Friday, when there were close to zero offers on any Ninty games, handhelds, or accessories. The retailer wasn't even carrying last year's holiday bundles.
There's been talk of a bust up between these two brands for some time, with many citing Amazon's early delivery (and therefore broken street dates) on Nintendo's games as a reason behind the breakup.
Considering the store hasn't got any Nintendo Switch 2 listings live, it might be sitting this one out.
Nintendo Switch 2 games are still available to pre-order at Walmart
What you doing there Wii Sports?
Walmart still has a range of Nintendo Switch 2 games available to pre-order right now, spanning everything from Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza to Switch 2 versions of The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. That's all alongside third party releases like Cyberpunk 2077, Split Fiction, and Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar.
Just make a note of those release dates, as they aren't all launch-day titles.
View all Nintendo Switch 2 games at Walmart
All eyes on Newegg
Yes, Walmart, Best Buy, and GameStop are all worth keeping a close eye on this week, but there's one more retailer I'm going to be watching like a hawk.
Newegg has the Nintendo Switch 2 listed on its site, but hasn't dropped any stock yet. That means there could be pre-orders waiting to go live, though the reason for any delay would be a mystery. It's been four days since that onslaught of stock hit the shelves for the first time, and this smaller retailer might be waiting for a lull in activity.
Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle | Check stock at Newegg
Top Tip: Stay signed into your accounts
Even if you missed out on last week's stock at Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and GameStop, it's well worth creating accounts for all of them and staying signed in. You never know when new Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are going to pop up and you'll want to be ready to sail through checkout as quickly as possible when they do.
I see consoles being sniped out of baskets constantly - it's not yours until you have that email confirmation. Stores will simply allow you to add it to your cart and then hand out allocation as each purchase is processed through the system. Keeping your shipping and payment details saved in your account (or using Apple or Google Pay) is the fastest way to make it through.
Nothing in the UK right now
The last retailer I saw offering Nintendo Switch 2 stock in the UK was The Game Collection and since those bundles left the shelves it's all been very quiet.
Still, last week gave us enough new drops to count on two hands so there's plenty to look forward to.
As ever, I'd recommend keeping in touch with Very and Argos, but Amazon has also been upping its frequency lately as well. It's also also worth watching those smaller stores like ShopTo as handhelds can hit the shelves without warning.
PSA: Don't buy Nintendo Switch 2 from resellers
eBay is rife with reseller listings for the Nintendo Switch 2 right now, with some charging near $800 for the handheld by itself. Considering we've still got just over a month of pre-orders (and launch day availability) to go, it's just not worth buying from these scams.
They're essentially the same people (and their armies of bots) who took your pre-order from reputable retailers like Best Buy or Walmart. Allowing them to sell it back to you at an inflated price will only make it harder to buy releases in the future as more scammers get involved.
In better news...
GameStop has the Nintendo Switch 2 listed as "coming soon."
Rather than simply saying it's unavailable or out of stock, GameStop is giving us a little hope with this message. Sure, it could be referring to launch day but the optimists among us will be keeping a close eye on this retailer over the next few weeks.
Nintendo Switch 2 | Check stock at GameStop
Walmart isn't listing the Nintendo Switch 2 anymore
This is an odd one.
Walmart generally keeps its listings around when it's run out of stock - that's what I've seen from the PS5, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection, and PS Portal over the years at least. However, the store has removed its listings for both the Nintendo Switch 2 handheld and the Mario Kart World bundle.
I would be surprised if Walmart was out of this race. The store had a massive supply when it dropped its first wave of pre-orders last week. This is certainly one to watch, though.
Another week begins
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders have just started their second week in the US, with the UK now onto its fourth week of early stock.
Things are quiet right now, but there are a few new movements on retailer sites to take note of. I'm stock checking through all the biggest stores, and will be bringing you all my tips and tricks for making the most of any drops you do come up against, right here.
