How To Sign Up For A Switch 2 Pre-Order
The Switch 2 will easily be one of the hottest gaming commodities that come out this year, and Nintendo is taking steps to ensure it gets into the hands of dedicated fans first. Trying to cut scalpers out of the equation is a great deal, but it does mean having to jump through some hoops to sign up for your Switch 2 pre-order. That said, I've already finished the process, and it's a lot easier than having to sleep outside my local Target with my family to get my Nintendo Wii back in 2006.
I'm going to start by going over how to pre-order a Switch 2 directly from Nintendo. This is the best way to guarantee you're getting a pre-order, and you won't have to compete with the many other interested buyers. That said, if you don't think you can meet Nintendo's requirements, I'll also go over what other retailers currently have listings for a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order.
Everything You Need To Get a Switch 2 Pre-Order
You Need A Nintendo Account, And May Be Eligible For A Priority Invite
To start, you'll need to have a few things already before you can pre-order a Switch 2 from Nintendo. One of them is a Nintendo account, which you likely already have if you own a Switch. You'll also need to be at least 18 years old if you live in the US and Canada.
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Players aren't happy with the pricing for several of Nintendo's Switch 2 games, emphasizing an ongoing problem with the gaming industry as a whole.
The opportunity to pre-order will be sent out on a first-come, first-served basis, but Nintendo also has a list of additional requirements that will ensure you are a priority customer. When your chance to order comes, you'll need to place it within 72 hours of receiving the initial email.
To get priority status, you will need to have had a paid Nintendo Switch Online membershipfor at least 12 months prior to April 2, 2025. You'll also have to opt into sharing gameplay data with Nintendo, which can be done online on Nintendo's website. You'll also need to have registered at least 50 hours of gameplay prior to the deadline, so it doesn't seem like a last-minute cram session will score you a priority pre-order.
You can check whether you've already been registered to share your data by visiting your account's privacy settings through Nintendo. Unfortunately, while you can also see when your latest Nintendo Switch Online subscription started on your account page, it won't tell you about previous subscriptions. That means it can be hard to tell if you've been subscribed for over a year and qualify for a priority pre-order if you don't remember when you first signed up.
How To Register For A Switch 2 Pre-Order
Nintendo's Website Allows You To Sign Up For A Pre-Order Invite
Whether you are eligible for a priority pre-order or not, you can still sign up for a chance to pre-order a Switch 2 on Nintendo's website. Once on this page, you will need to sign in to your Nintendo account, then select which version of the Switch 2 you want: just the console itself, or the Mario Kart World Bundle. Personally, I went with the Mario Kart World Bundle because it is only $50 more expensive, whereas buying Mario Kart World on its own will cost you at least $79.99.
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Following the quiet reveal of pricing for the Nintendo Switch 2 and some of its exclusive games, fans are expecting a repeat of the 3DS's price drop.
Once you're registered, you'll want to be on the lookout for your pre-order email, since you only have a 72-hour purchase window. Nintendo recommends that you add the email address no-reply@noa.nintendo.com to your safe sender list, just to make sure your pre-order message doesn't get filtered as spam. You'll also need to be ready to pay for your Switch 2 when you receive your email invitation, the first round of which will start on May 8, 2025.
Where Else To Pre-Order A Nintendo Switch 2
Major Retailers Like Walmart And GameStop Also Have Pre-Orders Going Live Soon
There are a few reasons you may want to pre-order your Switch 2 from a retailer other than Nintendo. For one thing, they may start earlier than Nintendo's. Walmart, for example, will open its pre-orders for Switch 2 consoles on April 9, 2025, almost a full month before the first round of emails gets sent out by Nintendo.
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In what is sure to be a surprise to many, the Nintendo Switch 2 almost had a different name, and it was one fans suggested in the past.
Additionally, some retailers may also offer financing options, meaning you won't have to pay for your Switch 2 all at once like you would with Nintendo. While financing could come with interest, I understand not everyone who wants a Switch 2 is able to drop $500 right away to get it. A full list of retailers that have listings for Switch 2 pre-orders can be found below, alongside what date those orders go live:
Retailer | Pre-Order Start Date |
|---|---|
Walmart | April 9 |
Amazon (UK) | By Invitation Only |
Best Buy | April 9 |
GameStop | April 9 |
Target | April 9 |
Personally, I'm going to stick with trying to order directly from Nintendo, but I can see why one might not want to wait a full month for an email invitation that might not come. With the Switch 2's June 5 release date rapidly approaching, I don't blame anyone for trying any method they can to get their hands on the console. I'm just happy that Nintendo's method seems to be an attempt to cut out Switch 2 scalpers, and I'm hoping if they get a lot of pre-orders using this method, more companies may try something similar for future console releases.
Sources: Nintendo Account, Nintendo, Walmart
- Brand
- Nintendo
- Original Release Date
- June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $449.99
- Operating System
- Proprietary
- Storage
- 256GB internal / MicroSD
- Resolution
- 1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
