When Do Nintendo Switch 2 Preorders Go Live at Each Retailer?

• Preorder here starting at 12 a.m. ET April 24

Preorders at Target for the console, games, and accessories will go live a midnight, as Wednesday turns into Thursday. You’ll be able to preorder online. The company hasn’t mentioned if preorders will be available in-store.

• Preorder here starting at 12 a.m. ET April 24

Just like Target, Walmart will open Switch 2 preorders at midnight on the morning of April 24. Walmart has offered no information about placing preorders live and in person at one of its retail locations, either.

However, Walmart is the only retailer offering free delivery of your Switch 2 console by 9 a.m. on launch day, June 5. So that’s pretty cool.

• Preorder here starting at 12 a.m. ET April 24

Best Buy will also begin taking online preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2, games, and accessories at 12 a.m. ET on April 24. Additionally, most Best Buy stores will open at midnight on June 5 for customers to pick up their preorders, if that’s the option you select when you place your preorder.

• Preorder here starting at 11 a.m. ET April 24

GameStop is kicking off preorders later than any of the other major retailers. Online preorders start at 11 a.m. ET on April 24, a full 11 hours after they start at the above retailers.

You can also preorder in person at brick-and-mortar GameStop locations when the stores open on April 24. As for preorder pickup, all GameStop stores will be open for at midnight on June 5 so you can be among the first to get your new console.

Preorders from the official Nintendo Store are a bit more complicated than at the retailers above. First, you’ll need to visit this page, log into your Nintendo account, and register your interest by selecting either the console by itself or in a bundle with Mario Kart World.

Once you do that, Nintendo will send you an email when it’s your turn to complete the purchase. The first batch of invitations will go out on May 8. When you receive your email invitation, you’ll have 72 hours to complete your purchase.

There are a number of caveats for buying a Switch 2 this way, however. It’s only open to customers “who have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership with a minimum of 12 months of paid membership and a minimum of 50 total gameplay hours, as of April 2, 2025.” If you don’t qualify for that, you’ll need to make your purchase elsewhere.

Also be sure to check out how to increase your chances of preordering a Switch 2.

Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.