Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are looking primed and ready to hit the shelves, with tomorrow’s Direct presentation scheduled in for 9am ET / 6am PT / 2pm BST. We could well see those early orders hitting the shelves at some point during the showcase. That follows the timeline set out by the previous handheld’s launch process, though conflicting leaks have put a pin in concrete plans for the Nintendo Switch 2 over the last few days.
I’ve been tracking pre-orders for the biggest drops since 2020, that’s five years of hunting down hard-to-find hardware across both the US and UK. I’ve learned how each retailer behaves, common early signs of wavering supply levels, and when to expect new waves of stock to appear.
While we await word on exactly whether Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders will drop tomorrow, I’m getting you prepped with everything I’ve learned so far. Should Nintendo push the magic button tomorrow – I’ll be bringing you all the latest stock as well.
The latest on Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders
Here’s what we know so far…
Best Buy Canada published a blog post last week, which confirmed the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date for April 2. The page has since been removed from the site, but was up and running for around four hours before being taken down.
However, newer leaks have pointed towards an April 9 pre-order date making us wait a whole extra week. That means Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders could go live tomorrow, but they could also still be days away – I’m not taking the risk on missing out.
While previous major hardware releases like the PS5 and Xbox Series X were incredibly competitive, Nintendo claims it has taken steps to ensure there are enough Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders to go around. This is still one of the biggest launches of the last few years, and considering even last year’s PlayStation 30th Anniversary stock still fell to resellers I’d recommend getting in line as soon as you can.
Where to check tomorrow
Amazon: No product page liveBest Buy: Sign up for email notificationsWalmart: No product page liveGameStop: Sign up for email notificationsNintendo: No product page live
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.
Will Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders drop tomorrow?
(Image credit: Future)
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.
What’s this about a coin?
(Image credit: Future)
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.
Should you pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2?
(Image credit: Future)
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.
