Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders could drop today, I'm following live to get you prepped

Top Tip: Don't wait for Nintendo - this is a race

If Switch 2 pre-orders do go live today, things are going to move fast once Nintendo gets the word out. Don't wait for the Direct to tell you that stock will be dropping soon - get those retailer pages loaded up well ahead of time. Most stock hunters will be heading straight to those same pages once Ninty drops the magic words and that kind of surge can crash sites. It's better to be already in place and refreshing.

While it's unlikely that all stores will set their stock live as soon as Nintendo gives the nod, you'll be in pole position to scoop up the first drops.

Retailers are sworn to secrecy over the Switch 2 pre-order date - and that changes things

Nintendo's a fun, family-friendly brand - it's also terrifying if you get on its bad side. Look, Mario's not afraid of a lawsuit and retailers definitely don't want to make him mad.

That's why we haven't had even a whisper of confirmation on any store pages in the lead up to today's presentation. Best Buy Canada did accidentally leak today's April 2 date, but Ninty sent Peach round pretty quick and the page went quiet. I expect that sworn silence will, however, could either work in our favor or to our detriment should Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders drop today.

That's because some stores, particularly Walmart and GameStop, often use these major launches to push their membership programs. Walmart Plus and GameStop Pro subscribers can get exclusive access to new stock much earlier than us regular folk. In the days leading up to a pre-order event, each store will advertise its membership non-stop, whereas this time around they haven't had the chance.

That means it's likely that, should today be the day, it will be a pre-order launch for the masses. On the one hand that means more competition, but on the other it means even those without a subscription can get in on day one. Be sure to sign in, save your information, and keep that refresh button warm.

I don't know if this is a late April Fools, but Genki has something to say

Genki Direct 4.2.2025 – Genki Glitch 2 - YouTube

Watch On

The brand behind some of the best Nintendo Switch accessories on the market, Genki, is running its own Direct presentation today. The live YouTube feed has appeared on the brand's channel, but there's no mention on the website itself. This could well be a late joke - especially considering the cheeky description but if we were to fall for it for just a second, there could be some information in here.

That 'Pre-orders start today' messaging has raised an eyebrow. The link takes us to an empty collection waiting to be filled with Nintendo Switch 2 accessories, but if Genki is using this gag to announce its full roster of new-generation gadgets and they do actually launch for pre-order today - well that's another thing entirely.

What are retailers saying this morning?

Retailers haven't quite woken up yet, but Best Buy has added a button to watch the live stream right on its own website. I've had a close look at that page, hunting down any more accidental leaks on the site but there doesn't seem to be any more information available right now.

Amazon still doesn't have a product page live, but I'd expect that. The retailer usually hides these listings, or makes them very difficult to find, before stock is actually available - I'll be bringing you the product page as soon as I get it.

Walmart is also quiet right now, without even a mention of today's announcement on its shelves. That's a little more surprising, though understandable considering how hush-hush that pre-order date actually is. The store is known for posting exact times for its Plus members to gain exclusive early access - but that would give the whole game away this time.

Meanwhile, GameStop's messaging is more of the same. We've got a product page here (and I'm trying to work out if that 'coming soon' message is new or not), with email notifications available. The site also states you can 'check back soon for pre-order info', though how soon is 'soon'?

It's officially April 2, the day of the Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-orders could drop in a matter of hours now, so while we wait for that 9am ET / 6am PT / 2pm BST showcase, I'm sharing more of my tips and tricks to make sure you're in the best position for when they do. It's still early in the US, but the UK has awoken - and it's time to start talking retailers.

Where to sign up for email notifications (and why you should)

I do find email notifications to be useful - but not necessarily for heading straight to fast-selling stock. Instead, retailers will likely be able to provide you with direct links to their product pages when they send their initial pre-order emails. That's more valuable than you think.

Whenever I'm tracking stock, I have to keep a bank of retailer links handy - but if a product hasn't been listed yet, I'm essentially guessing at where it might turn up. Sometimes stores are sneaky.

Amazon is particularly bad at this - sometimes retailer sites won't load brand new products into search fields quick enough for you to get at them. That's valuable time while you hunt for the actual product page where the Nintendo Switch 2 is listed. An email notification will generally take you straight there.

Best Buy has a sign up form for email notifications around pre-order dates, also allowing information about 'games and more' to hit your inbox. However, the site also states that 'you will not be opted in to any other Best Buy email communications.'

GameStop is also running emails that will let you know 'when Switch 2 is available' via its own site.

Retailer spotlight: Amazon

Amazon is either going to be your best friend or your worst enemy if Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders drop tomorrow. The online retailer has the site structure and warehouse space to shift a huge number of handhelds when the bell rings, but it's sometimes late to the party. For example, I didn't see any 30th Anniversary PS5 stock here on day one when those special edition consoles launched last year. Even as far back as 2020's stock troubles, Amazon was spotty at best.

However, Bezos does like a surprise drop. I've stared blankly at strange new console stock magically appearing on Amazon's site after weeks of drought - if things move fast at other retailers when pre-orders do land, it's well worth keeping that refresh button hot.

Of course, pre-ordering at Amazon also comes with its own benefits if you're a Prime member. Speedy shipping makes all the difference come launch day, after all.

My top tip for securing a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order: Sign in

If there's one thing you take away from tonight's preparations it's this; sign into your accounts. If tracking PS5 and Xbox Series X stock over the years has taught me anything, it's that your checkout speed can be make or break. I saw consoles snatched out of carts right up until the very last second in previous launches - retailers don't care if you've got a Switch 2 in your basket until you've paid.

To speed up the process, sign in (and choose to stay signed in) with every retailer you plan on checking in your pre-order hunt. Not only that, but save your shipping and payment information (you can always delete it again later). That way you're cutting down the time spent during the checkout phase once those doors swing open.

Will Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders sell out?

There's another little tidbit from Insider Gaming's report. The 'major retailer' that provided the leak surrounding the April 9 pre-order date also laid out its concerns that initial stock allocations would quickly be depleted during the first wave of interest. That certainly doesn't bode well for Nintendo's plan of attack.

The brand has been resolute in its apparent commitment to ensuring the Nintendo Switch 2 doesn't become a reseller's dream - instead focusing on upping supplies.

Still, we live in a world where the PS5 and Xbox Series X were scooped up before you could even load the page. It's reasonable to be cynical.

This is a big launch, so I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders ran out of stock on day one. Retailers only have as many units as they've been allocated by Nintendo, after all.

However, I don't expect it to be as difficult to find a Switch 2 on the shelves afterwards as it was with previous current-gen consoles. You might have to wait a day or two if you miss out on that first round, but signs are pointing towards faster second and third stock waves this time around.

... And a theory about those two pre-order dates

April 2 and April 9, those are the two Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order dates floating around at the moment. Maybe it's not an 'either or', though - maybe Ninty is going the way of Sony.

I was stock tracking during last year's PlayStation 30th Anniversary stock drops, where Sony reserved some of its more popular gadgets for its own site. The Pro console, Portal handheld, and Edge controller were all exclusive to PS Direct, and pre-orders at this site launched around a week in advance of wider retailers.

That could well be what we see tomorrow, Nintendo launches pre-orders on its own page first and allows the rest of the gang in on the fun on April 9.

A new pricing clue

As is tradition, as soon as I make my price prediction, something comes along to change my mind. Simply Games, a UK retailer, has updated its Switch 2 landing page and that PayPal button has something to say.

While the Switch 2 isn't available to pre-order yet, the store has added this split-payment option, and opening it up reveals a suspicious £499.99 RRP. That's at the top end of analyst predictions, and a rate that throws more conservative $399.99 / £399.99 estimates into the wind.

Via @Zuby_Tech

Of course, there's more to the price discussion right now

It's even more difficult to put a final price on the Nintendo Switch 2 in the US right now. Tariffs are always on the brain these days, but they might be coming for our handhelds as well. The trade situation in the US is anything but simple, and with so many parts moving so quickly it's possible that the final USD rate for the Switch 2 is back up in the air again.

It will be interesting to see how retailers handle Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders without a concrete price tag, but there does seem to be some ambiguity from more recent speculation. None of the Best Buy Canada, GameStop, or Game Informer leaks mention a cost even once - that could be because even the retailers themselves are unsure of where they stand.

Personally, I'm expecting to see a US rate in tomorrow's presentation. I'm expecting pre-orders to start tomorrow using that MSRP. However, I would also expect that cost to increase should tariffs fall in the way in the near-future.

How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?

That's the question that has been on everyone's lips since the handheld was first rumored years ago. At the moment, I'm putting a solid bet on a $399.99 MSRP in the US (and £379.99 - £399.99 RRP in the UK). That's based off years' worth of rumors, sure, but it also feels like the right value. I'd be surprised if Nintendo went over the $400 mark with this device, and UK prices are typically a little cheaper.

GameStop's trade-in prices are looking pretty sweet

A tweet by Mike Odyssey seemingly leaked GameStop's Nintendo Switch trade-in rates today, with the retailer reportedly offering $175 in trade-in value for a Switch OLED and $125 for a standard edition console.

The Nintendo Switch Lite is currently rumored to be worth $100 off your Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order if you're going for the mega-upgrade. That's not a shabby discount, especially if you're currently rocking the flagship OLED model.

Of course, only time will tell if these rates are real.

Should you pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2?

If you're already here, you're likely already pretty sold on getting in on Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders from day one. If you're on the fence, though, it's worth thinking about how soon you need to be playing new games.

The next Switch is backwards compatible, and there's already a massive library of titles on the current-generation console. If you've still got a backlog, a handheld to play them on, and you're in two minds about the Nintendo Switch 2, a pre-order might not make sense.

While the new console will undoubtedly run old games better than the previous generation, you're still paying more to do so. If none of the new lineup takes your fancy, or you're content to keep trucking along with the console in your possession there might not be a need to jump on any pre-orders if they do materialize today.

That said, definitely don't hold off in the hopes of getting a better price after launch. Nintendo hardware doesn't drop its value for years after release, so I'm expecting to see handhelds at MSRP at least through Black Friday 2025.

So who should be pre-ordering? If you are set on playing through the rest of your backlog in as high a quality as possible, or any of the launch line up games need to be day one hits, it's well worth getting in with an early order rather than waiting for launch.

Nintendo has stated that availability will be plentiful, but some stores have expressed concerns around selling out on day one. The truth is, we just don't know how stock is going to play out when release day comes - it's better to be safe with your email receipt.

What's this about a coin?

Ah yeah, one more thing from Insider Gaming's report. Apparently, Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders will also launch with a collectable coin. We have no idea of the scale or aesthetic of the coin but if there's one thing Ninty fans love it's exclusive merch. We'll have to wait and see if this fabled currency exists or not, but it does feel like a Nintendo move.

Will Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders drop tomorrow?

The rumor mill has been spinning up over the last few days, but here's what we know right now.

On March 27, Best Buy Canada published a (now deleted) blog post stating that Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders will drop on April 2. That follows the timeline set out by the previous handheld's launch exactly, giving us good reason to hope for early orders tomorrow.

However, on March 28, the following day, retailer documents were leaked suggesting an April 9 date instead. The full report, surfaced by Insider Gaming, states that the store in question was concerned that its initial allocation of stock wouldn't meet demand on that April 9 launch date.

'Pre-order coming soon' messaging was also included in the report, speculated to be published on the retailer site after the Direct, alongside a timer countdown running to April 9.

There are two conflicting stories here, but I'm not going to let Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders pass me by - I'm keeping my ears to the ground tomorrow regardless.

And we're off, I'll be bringing you all my tips and tricks for grabbing a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order should stock drop tomorrow. I'll be here all afternoon and evening, making sure you're up to date with any retailer movements that could suggest those doors are about to open and getting you prepped with the retailers and trade-ins you should be keeping a close eye on when that Direct launches.