Switch 2 Preorders Crash Stores — Nintendo Isn’t Ready for the Hype

If you were hoping to grab a Nintendo Switch 2 without stress, well... surprise! You’re probably not getting one anytime soon. Preorders in the U.S. just launched today, and they were gone in minutes — not just sold out, but disappeared, leaving a wave of eBay listings and very salty fans in their wake.

“We have received 2.2 million applications for the lottery sale at our official online store for customers in Japan alone, which is far larger than what we had anticipated.” — Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa

That quote basically sums up where we’re at. Demand for Nintendo’s new-gen console is absurd, and the company seems completely overwhelmed, both logistically and technically. Japan’s My Nintendo Store actually crashed earlier this week under the weight of lottery signups, and now the U.S. is seeing the same kind of digital meltdown. It’s PS5 launch energy all over again, only more chaotic.

Speaking of Nintendo's problems, we wrote about the loss of identity that the former head of PlayStation noticed.

Image: Nintendo

A Record-Breaking Launch in the Making?

According to analysts at Pelham Smithers Associates, just the pre-orders could hit 6.6 million units, which would blow past anything we’ve seen in the past decade. For reference, the PlayStation 5 sold 4.5 million units in its first two months, and that was already considered a wild success despite major shortages. If Nintendo gets even close to those preorder numbers, Switch 2 could be heading for the biggest console launch of all time.

“As Japan accounts for a third of the global Switch installation base, it implies 6.6 million pre-orders globally.”

It’s not just the preorder numbers — it’s how fast things are moving. The Japanese market has already been gamified through a massive lottery system that prioritizes dedicated players with a history of online purchases and frequent playtime. It’s Nintendo’s way of curbing scalpers, but let’s be real, scalpers are always five steps ahead.

In the U.S., things are worse. The console sold out everywhere within minutes, and listings are already flooding eBay at $650+, despite the official price being $450. Just like the early PS5 days, we're back to bots, restock trackers, and crushed dreams.

Why buy a Switch? Our pick of the best Switch 2 games might convince you! There's Cyberpunk!

Image: Nintendo

Switch 2 in 2025: Console Comeback?

What makes this particularly interesting is that we’re seeing a full-scale console resurgence, even in a PC-dominated market. Let’s not pretend: the past few years have seen PC gaming dominate headlines with 4K/144Hz everything, massive mod support, and competitive pricing (especially post-pandemic). But Nintendo is reminding everyone why consoles still matter.

The Switch 2 is positioned not as a raw horsepower beast, but as a smart upgrade for a hybrid device that defined a generation. It’s lighter, faster, more display-savvy, and rumor has it that third-party support is stronger than ever. That means more multiplats, fewer ports that run like junk, and a library that can stand toe-to-toe with PS5 and Xbox in 2025 — at least in terms of relevance, if not resolution.

Even PC players are taking notice, especially since Nintendo’s exclusives don’t show up anywhere else officially. Unless you’re emulating (which, let’s be honest, a lot of people are), you’ll need the hardware to play titles like Zelda: Echoes of Time, Metroid Prime 4, or whatever Mario game Nintendo inevitably drops this holiday.

Image: Nintendo's Switch 2 3D-printed mock-up (top) and SteamDeck (bottom).

But Can Nintendo Keep Up?

Here’s the problem: supply. Analysts say Nintendo plans to ship 6 to 8 million consoles by launch day on June 5. That might sound like a lot, but if demand is outpacing the PS5 — and it looks like it is — that won’t be nearly enough. Japan is getting hammered already, the U.S. is in full panic mode, and Europe hasn’t even gotten started yet.

The other curveball? Tariffs. Due to former President Donald Trump’s trade policies, Switch 2 units assembled in Vietnam (about a third of the total production) were hit with a 46% import tax, which was only recently reduced to 10% temporarily. That’s why prices might jump again, especially for accessories and bundles.

“Other adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are also possible in the future.” — Nintendo, on U.S. pricing impact

So even if you do manage to get a Switch 2, the real cost might be higher than expected, especially in the U.S. Nintendo already raised accessory prices last week and didn’t exactly say that’s where the increases will stop.

Console Gaming Is Still Alive, and Very Loud

This entire situation proves something that’s easy to forget in 2025: console gaming is not dead. For every 4090-powered streamer or Steam Deck fan, there are millions of people who just want to plug in a console and play. No drivers, no settings menus, no compatibility patches. Just good games, day one.

And when Nintendo hits the right note — as they seem to be doing here — they don’t just sell consoles. They sell cultural moments.

Switch 2 isn’t just a sequel to a popular console. It’s a sequel to how we think about gaming hardware. Simple, approachable, and exclusive where it counts.

If you didn’t get one today, don’t panic. There’ll be more waves. Probably. Maybe. Good luck.