The highly anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2 has sparked a digital frenzy, causing major disruptions across prominent U.S. retail websites as eager fans scrambled to secure a pre-order. The chaos ensued after an earlier delay in the pre-sale schedule, which stemmed from newly imposed tariffs on Japanese exports, shaking up Nintendo’s release timeline.
Retail Giants Buckle Under Pressure
Retailers including Target, Best Buy, and Walmart were all hit by massive online traffic surges early Thursday morning, as thousands of consumers flooded their platforms to get their hands on the next-generation console. According to outage-tracking site Downdetector, over 2,000 users reported difficulties accessing Target’s website shortly after midnight, with disruptions lasting for about 45 minutes. The issues appeared precisely when pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 became available.
Best Buy’s system was similarly overwhelmed, especially since the company required users to log in to place pre-orders. Starting around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, users began encountering issues — with over 600 outage reports submitted. Nearly 56% of those users cited login problems. Even those who managed to log in often found themselves staring at a “Coming Soon” message instead of the pre-order button. This lasted for approximately half an hour after the sale had supposedly gone live, as reported by IGN.
Walmart was not spared from the digital traffic jam either. Around the same time on Wednesday evening, their app experienced technical difficulties, with more than 1,700 reports of access issues — about 55% of which cited problems with the mobile application itself. All three retailers — Target, Best Buy, and Walmart — sold out of their available Nintendo Switch 2 units within mere minutes of the launch window.
Delayed by Tariffs, Driven by Demand
The Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order sale had initially been scheduled for April 9. However, geopolitical events disrupted the plan. On what former President Donald Trump declared as “Liberation Day,” the U.S. government announced reciprocal tariffs against Japan, including a steep 24% levy on certain Japanese imports — consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2 among them.
In response, Nintendo postponed its U.S. pre-order date, citing the “impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.” Hours after the tariffs were introduced, Trump issued a 90-day reprieve to allow for negotiations amid volatile market conditions, including dramatic swings in stocks and rising concern about how tariffs might affect broader economic factors such as mortgage rates.
Despite the U.S. complications, pre-orders for the Switch 2 remained uninterrupted in other regions like the UK and Europe. Nintendo confirmed that the global launch date — June 5 — would remain unchanged, giving hope to fans who missed out on the brief U.S. pre-order window.
A New Era for Nintendo Gaming
The Switch 2 marks the latest innovation in Nintendo’s gaming lineup, building on the success of the original Switch, which debuted in March 2017. While several updated models and editions have rolled out since then, the Switch 2 is the company’s most significant generational leap.
Retailing at $449.99, the console also offers a premium bundle option: for an additional $50, users can receive the Mario Kart World Bundle pre-installed — an attractive feature for fans of Nintendo’s iconic racing franchise.
While Target, Best Buy, and Walmart have sold out their stock for now, GameStop is expected to open its pre-orders at 11 a.m. ET today. Amazon, however, has confirmed it will not offer any pre-order options for the Switch 2 at this stage.
The Nintendo Switch 2 launch is a perfect storm of demand, digital disruption, and geopolitical trade tensions. As fans eagerly await the console's official release on June 5, many are still hopeful for restocks and future opportunities to order. Nintendo’s decision to hold firm on its global launch date despite economic and political hurdles demonstrates the company’s confidence in the Switch 2’s potential to redefine portable and hybrid gaming in 2025 and beyond.