To fend off scalpers, Nintendo has created a preorder system for the Switch 2 that prioritizes sales to loyal customers who play frequently.

Third-party retailers like Best Buy and GameStop will start taking preorders on April 9. Those sales are open to everyone (including resellers), increasing the chance that you may get locked out of placing your order.

So, Nintendo is using an invite system that requires interested customers in the US and Canada to log into their Nintendo Accounts and "register your interest" in a Switch 2. Eligible consumers will then receive an email letting them preorder the product. The first invites roll out on May 8, and recipients will have 72 hours to complete their purchase. The Switch 2 launches on June 5.

Although the system is open to all, it favors loyal Nintendo gamers who’ve previously paid for Nintendo Switch Online, which costs $19.99 per year. Invites will be prioritized 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, 2025."

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"You must have opted in to share gameplay data and have at least 50 hours total gameplay hours," an FAQ says. "Once invitation emails have been sent to all registrants meeting the priority criteria, invitations will be sent to remaining eligible registrants on a first-come, first-served basis."

Scalpers spoiled first-generation Switch sales by buying all the stock from third-party retailers. To prevent a repeat, Nintendo said last year that it planned “to produce a sufficient number to meet customer demand.” It now looks like the company is preparing extra safeguards, at least for the Nintendo online store. 

In the UK, the rules are stricter. There, Nintendo will prioritize customers who've been Nintendo Switch Online customers for at least two years continuously as of March 31, "with an active membership on the day that the pre-order is placed."

(Credit: Nintendo UK)

The UK-based system also favors users who’ve logged more playtime, shared usage information with Nintendo, and opted into receiving promotional emails from the company.