Overview

• Nintendo Switch 2 preorders launched on April 24 in the U.S., with initial stock selling out within minutes across major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Best Buy.
• Retail websites experienced significant technical issues, including outages and payment errors, due to overwhelming demand for the console and its $499.99 Mario Kart World bundle.
• Nintendo has announced plans to scale up production to meet demand and will begin offering direct preorder invitations through its My Nintendo Store on May 8, requiring specific playtime and membership criteria.
• The Switch 2 features significant hardware upgrades, including a 1080p handheld display, 4K docked output, enhanced Joy-Con controllers, and built-in GameChat functionality.
• Despite trade tariffs creating initial delays, Nintendo maintained the console's $449.99 price point and confirmed a June 5 launch date.