How to pre-order Nintendo Switch 2: top tips from my years of stock hunting

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are now officially live on both sides of the pond, with US retailers opening proceedings at midnight on April 24. Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and GameStop are all in the mix now, joining a multitude of retailers in the UK.

If you're struggling to break through to checkout, though, there are things that can help. I've been tracking high-profile pre-orders for over five years now, cutting my teeth on the PS5 and Xbox Series X and tracking stock for everything from handhelds to 30th Anniversary limited editions since then. I know where Nintendo Switch 2 stock is likely to land, and the steps you can take to snap it up fast.

Between making sure your shipping and payment details are all saved and dividing your time between apps, mobile sites, and desktop pages, there are a number of ways you can set yourself up for Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order success. It all starts with the retailers you choose though.

I'm rounding up everything I know about how your favorite stores operate just below, as well as all my general tips and tricks for a successful drop further down the page.

Tabitha Baker

I was on the front lines of the PS5 and Xbox Series X launches back in 2020 and have been hunting down hard-to-find stock ever since. I know how the pre-order game runs by now, having covered every major hardware release in that time. That means I can spot the retailers that will offer you the best shot at an early order, and know exactly how to make the most of each drop.

Check for Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order updates in the US

Check for Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order updates in the UK

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order criteria

Nintendo isn't just handing out its Switch 2 pre-orders. The brand promised it had processes in place to avoid resellers getting their hands on all the consoles earlier this year, and we're now seeing what that looks like.

US: To pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2 direct from Nintendo (other retailers won't require the same conditions be met) you'll need to be a Nintendo Account holder over the age of 18. Nintendo will, however, prioritize its invites for those who have had a Nintendo Switch Online membership for a minimum of 12 months with a minimum of 50 total gameplay hours before April 2.

UK: The conditions for pre-ordering a Nintendo Switch 2 in the UK are a little more stringent. You'll need to have had at least two years of continuous Nintendo Switch Online, with your account active at the time of purchase. Nintendo only specifies that priority will be handed to those with "a certain amount" of game hours logged on their account, but the US's 50 hours could well be the baseline for this. You'll also need to be signed up to share usage information with Nintendo itself and be receiving the brand's promo emails.

You do not need to meet these conditions when pre-ordering your console from other retailers, this is just for going direct via Nintendo.

My top tips for securing a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order

I've been here before, far too many times. I've picked up a few tips and tricks for making the most of each drop from the last five years of pre-ordering PS5, Xbox Series X, PlayStation Portals, PlayStation 30th Anniversary special editions and much more. Between signing into your accounts, keeping an eye out for subscriber-only access, and keeping your mobile device handy, there are plenty of things you can be doing every time Nintendo Switch 2 stock drops.

1. Save your details

Making an account with every retailer that has Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders on the cards is well worth it, but also make sure to save your shipping and payment details. I've seen countless consoles ripped straight out of carts even when stock-hunters are moments away from finishing the checkout process - it's not yours until you've got the confirmation. That's why making that final step move as fast as possible is going to serve you so well, and by keeping your information plugged into the system you can zip through with just a few clicks.

2. Check your apps

I get the urge to make the Big Purchase on a desktop, truly I do. However, when sites are crashing and demand is surging you can sometimes sneak in through the back door on mobile. That's either by simply heading to the store's page directly from a browser, or using their dedicated shopping app. I've seen entire stock drops only available via apps in the past, never even making it onto the full version of a retailer's site. Keep that phone handy to maximize your chances when Nintendo Switch 2 stock does arrive.

3. Keep refreshing

I saw so many stock-hunters admitting defeat too early when the PS5 and Xbox Series X had their own stock dramas in 2020. Best Buy or Walmart would post an 'out of stock' message and thousands would leave the website, only for the consoles to flash back onto the shelves moments later. If you see a similar message when Nintendo Switch 2 stock starts to land, don't give up.

Retailers may pause their availability if the site is getting overloaded or their checkout process is buckling, waiting for things to settle down again before switching the button back on. That's why I see stock drops running in waves - each actual restock could immediately sell out in minutes, but will likely continue ebbing and flowing over the course of an hour or so.

Keep that refresh button warm and don't give up at the first hurdle.

4. Don't buy from resellers

I'd like to think it goes without saying, but shoppers still do it every day. There is no need to buy from resellers, there will always be more Nintendo Switch 2 stock up for grabs. The reason these high profile drops have become so difficult to buy in recent years is down to these resellers - they're essentially taking your pre-order for themselves and then selling it back to you at an inflated price. And they will continue to do that for as long as people are willing to pay for it.

5. Consider memberships

We're not quite there yet, as neither Best Buy nor Walmart have announced Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders being reserved for their membership subscribers. However, once we get to the second or third wave of stock drops, these stores could well keep their units back behind that paywall. It's a marketing tactic that I've seen both stores using in the past, so if you miss out on that initial allocation it's worth considering a subscription to make sure you're covered.

It's worth noting that, historically speaking, it's only the paid members of Walmart Plus that are eligible for this particular site's exclusive drops - the free trial alone isn't enough. However, you can skip through the free trial to become a full paid member faster if you need to.

Should you pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2?

Nintendo has stated on multiple occasions that it has ensured there will be enough Nintendo Switch 2 units to go around on release day, but you can never be too careful. If you know you want the handheld straight from day one, I'd recommend locking in your pre-order as soon as you can. If you're unsure on that fact, this question gets a little more complicated.

If you know you'll ultimately be buying a Nintendo Switch 2 at some point, but you still have a large original backlog or you aren't particularly interested in any of the announced Switch 2 launch games then it might be better to wait. I'm personally holding off until I get through my existing collection of games on my Switch OLED - I'll be diving straight into Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza as soon as I get one, but they're not must-haves for me on day one.

I would recommend you reconsider if you're holding off on a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order in the hopes of a cheaper price later this year, though. Nintendo hardware doesn't lost its value quickly at all. It took a good few years for major discounts to hit the previous generation, and even then we were only talking about a rare $10 price cut or a game bundle. I'm not expecting that Switch 2 price to shift meaningfully for a long time yet.

We're also rounding up all the latest upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 games as well as everything announced at the Switch 2 Direct and everything we know about Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility.