The much-anticipated launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-sale hit major retail websites with a bang, but the excitement quickly turned into frustration for many shoppers.
As the clock struck midnight, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy became overwhelmed with traffic from eager gamers trying to secure their consoles, causing widespread technical issues and complaints.
Website Crashes and Frustration: Retailers Under Siege
The chaos began when Target’s website crashed right at midnight, triggering a wave of frustration among customers.
According to Downdetector, more than 2,200 complaints were registered almost immediately after the sale kicked off.
This was followed by a similar meltdown at Best Buy, where issues began earlier in the evening at around 9 PM but spiked dramatically at midnight.
Shoppers on Walmart’s website also experienced difficulties, with the first wave of problems appearing around 9 PM, although the site did see a smaller uptick in reports at midnight.
As the pre-sale continued, many customers were left empty-handed after repeated attempts to order, only to encounter broken systems or delayed pages.
Social Media Meltdown: Gamers Venting Their Frustrations
With the sites crashing and pre-orders failing, social media quickly became the go-to place for frustrated gamers to share their anger and confusion.
Many took to Twitter to air grievances about Best Buy’s failure to properly launch the pre-sale.
One user tweeted, “Which Best Buy employee forgot to change the button for the preorders for Switch 2?” Another complained, “Best Buy didn’t open their preorders on time… now I’m stuck in a long line.”
A third user shared their frustration, saying, “Best Buy is crashing hard.
Hopefully people get their Switch 2s.” Some even had technical issues once they managed to get through to the queue, with one person writing, “Best Buy closed the ‘you’re in line’ box without letting me do anything.”
On the flip side, there were also some happy gamers who managed to score their consoles. “I GOT ONE YESSSS! Nintendo Switch 2 here we go, baby!” one excited customer posted.
Another cheered, “I managed to get one through Best Buy, hopefully, they don’t cancel my order.”
The Struggles of Getting a Pre-Order: A Widespread Problem
Unfortunately, not everyone had the same luck. One shopper shared his frustrations after trying all three major retailers and failing to secure a console at any of them.
“My Nintendo Switch 2 shopping experience lol. Thanks Target, Best Buy, and Walmart,” he posted alongside screenshots showing the failed attempts.
Nintendo Switch 2: What’s New and Why the Delay?
The new Nintendo Switch 2, priced at $449.99, promises several upgrades over its predecessor, including a larger 7.9-inch screen, better resolution, a new chat feature, and redesigned Joy-Con controllers that detach with ease.
But gamers were already waiting for this release, which was originally set for April 9, 2025.
However, due to tariff concerns raised by the Trump administration’s new trade policies, Nintendo delayed the pre-sale and launch.
The company explained that the delay was necessary to assess the potential impact of these tariffs and the evolving market conditions.
Impact of Trump-Imposed Tariffs on Nintendo’s Price Strategy
Despite the pressure of tariffs, Nintendo confirmed that the price of the new Switch would remain at $449.99, with no increase despite the new costs imposed by the tariffs.
The company stated that it would absorb millions of dollars in additional costs to keep the price the same for customers.
Since the Switch consoles are mostly produced in China and Vietnam, both countries were heavily affected by the trade policies.
Although the pre-sale was delayed, the new Switch 2 is still set to launch on June 5, 2025.
Fans of the gaming system will be hoping for a smoother process when the official release date finally arrives.