(Credit: PCMag / Nintendo)
It's been a wild month for Nintendo, as their announcement of the Switch 2 was immediately followed by the US government upending international trade in dozens of ways. Things seem to have calmed down, and now we're ready to preorder. Today is the magic day, with major retailers opening the floodgates. We've got all the info on how to make sure you get one.
First, the hardware. Lead analyst Will Greenwald has the complete rundown of the system's specs. If you want the Cliff's Notes, it has a similar footprint to the original Switch, with an all-in-one unit that contains both the console hardware and a 7.9-inch LCD screen, coupled with removable Joy-Con 2 controllers. But even the things that look similar have been redesigned from the ground up. Go ahead and check out our comparison of the Nintendo Switch 2 versus Switch 1 for a deeper dive on how they stack up.
(Credit: Nintendo)The new Joy-Con 2 controllers look similar to the first version, but now attach to the console and other accessories magnetically, for a secure fit. They also feature mouse controls, meaning you can slide them across a flat surface for cursor-moving input, as well as a new dedicated button that activates voice chat features. The system itself promises "significantly improved CPU and GPU performance" according to Nintendo, along with USB-C ports on both sides so that you can charge the console while you play, as well as video output up to 4K and 120FPS, video chatting, and a GameShare feature that lets you play online with people who don't own the game you bought. We do still have a few questions, but overall the console looks great.
But the big question is: How do you get one? Preorders for the Switch 2 begin today (4/24), with the console hitting retailers on Thursday, June 5 at a cost of $449.99. There will also be a bundle with Mario Kart World included for $499.99. Accessories will include a new Switch Camera at $54.99, a Switch 2 Pro controller for $84.99, and extra JoyCon 2 controllers for $94.99 apiece.
Nintendo reportedly has a stockpile of over a million Switch 2 consoles already stateside in preparation for purchase, so that's good news for worried purchasers. That said, the original Switch blew through a million units sold shortly after it launched, so don't sleep on the value of a preorder.
How To Preorder a Nintendo Switch 2
The most obvious place to get a Switch 2 is from Nintendo itself. If you have a Nintendo account and you're 18 years of age or older, you can register your intent to purchase right now. This is not a binding commitment, but it will be rolling out exclusive purchase links starting May 8 in the order they were received. Well, sort of. There are two lists here: If you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 paid months and 50+ gameplay hours as of April 2, 2025, you get put on the priority list. If not, you're in the second set of invites after all the first group has gone. Read our rundown of why the Nintendo Switch 2 preorder system favors Switch Online members. It's also important to note that Nintendo will only tell you if you're on the list on May 8 or later, which is after preorders open at other stores.
Major retailers will open up preorders on April 24, and have landing pages online with more information. Here are the stores we know are going to offer Switch 2 preorders.
Best Buy
Best Buy has a landing page for Switch 2 preorders, where you can sign up for updates, watch a replay of the announcement, and get discounts on games and gear. Best Buy Plus and Total members also get $20 bonus rewards for every $150 spent on select Nintendo games and hardware. Preorders will begin at midnight Eastern time on the morning of April 24th.
GameStop
GameStop has its Switch 2 landing page up as well, if you're still invested in the meme stock and want to pump up the valuation a bit. You can sign up there for preorder notification as well. If you join GameStop Pro, you can get $65 off on your purchase. Preorders at Gamestop will also begin at 11AM Eastern time on the morning of April 24th.
Walmart
Walmart has its Switch 2 landing page up and running, along with discounts on games that will be backwards compatible with the new system. They've also announced that customers in the Pacific and Mountain time zone will be able to purchase a Switch 2 console in-store at 9PM PDT / 10PM MDT. Walmart also does curbside delivery, and if you preorder a Switch 2 before 8AM on June 4, they promise that they can get the system to you by 9AM local time on June 5th. Some restrictions apply. Preorders will begin here at midnight Eastern time on the morning of April 24th as well
Target
Target has set up its Switch 2 preorder page. It's pretty bare-bones at the moment, but if you're trying to cover all the bases it's here. No discounts, rebates or bundle deals have been announced there. They also have not revealed the time that preorders will go live on April 24th.
We'll be updating this page when other retailer pages go live at Amazon and more, as well as keeping an eye out for bundle deals.
Amazon
With less than 24 hours to go before the preorder, we're still waiting on Amazon to launch their landing page.
How To Make Sure You Get a Nintendo Switch 2
No matter where you want to preorder, you need to be ready on April 24th. Make sure you're logged in to your retailer accounts, your billing information is up to date, and your shipping info is correct. Shoppers and scalpers will be snapping up consoles at lightning speed, so any wasted time harms your chances of getting a Switch 2.
If you do happen to miss out on a preorder at your retailer of choice, don't panic. Different stores typically have slightly different release windows depending on their technical infrastructure. In the past, we've seen Best Buy typically first past the post for preorder availability on the day of, quickly followed by Walmart and GameStop. Amazon marches to the beat of their own drum, sometimes acting fast and sometimes taking hours to get a preorder page up. Bookmarking as many different retailers as possible will improve your odds on getting a purchase through.
One method we'd recommend avoiding in the heady preorder season is reseller sites like eBay. Scammers and scalpers gravitate to these sites to make a quick buck off of people desperate for the new hotness, and will often elevate prices, post deceptive listings and more to separate you from your money. We're not saying all resellers are bad, but they don't have the level of trust that major retailers do.
Another way to get the inside scoop on preorders is with the newly-announced Nintendo Today! app. This iOS and Android app gives you a direct line to the legendary game company with updates every 24 hours, but we're hearing rumors that the company might drop preorder opportunities there. It's also a good idea to follow us on X for up-to-the-minute deals.
(Credit: Nintendo)How To Get a Nintendo Switch Deal Right Now
If you don't want to battle the crowds on April 24th, there are tremendous deals to be found on existing Switch hardware and games.
We gave an Editors' Choice award to the OLED refresh of the original Switch in our review, saying that the console was an all-around improvement thanks to the brighter, bigger and more colorful screen, increased onboard storage and improved kickstand. Everything you loved about the original Switch is here, from the intuitive and responsive controls to Nintendo's unbeatable first-party games. This is the best way to play original Switch titles until the Switch 2 comes out.
Mario Kart World is one of the Switch 2's launch titles, so if you're a little rusty behind the wheel it might be smart to practice with what we called "the most comprehensive Mario Kart game to date" in our review. The pioneer kart racing game got an Editors' Choice award from us thanks to its massive selection of courses, intuitive and powerful controls and revamped Battle Mode. If you don't know the drill, these games are about speeding and drifting through colorful tracks, picking up weapons and ruining other drivers' days. Pick it up at a 17% discount right now.
The Pokemon franchise is one of Nintendo's most reliable performers, and while it will be a bit before we see a new full-fledged adventure of monster collecting, the spin-off games are just as good. New Pokemon Snap takes you on a safari through the Lental region with your trusty camera, tasking you with photographing more than 200 of the creatures in their natural habitat, earning stars for good composition, focus and more and unlocking new areas to explore. We gave it an "Excellent" rating in our review, particularly enjoying the charming animations and unlockable customization options.
Need more savings 1-ups? Our deals page has the best prices on our favorite, top-rated products.