Nintendo

Before you too riled up, not all orders are being cancelled here. The one week countdown to the release of Nintendo Switch 2 is officially on. After years of waiting, and a countless number of rumors and leaks, the Switch 2 release is finally upon us and, while we would have liked to start our countdown off on a happy note, we thought it more pertinent to launch this PSA – loads of folks who thought they secured a Switch 2 pre-order last month are starting to see pre-orders getting cancelled. 

Nintendo has a decent selection of updated Switch 2 games scheduled to hits next-generation console as Switch 2 Editions in the coming months. Zelda BotW and Tears of the Kingdom being the two primetime titles alongside upgraded versions of Kirby and the Forgotten Land as well as Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV – and Nintendo just debuted a brand new trailer for the latter. Check it out below. 

The Pokémon company and Nintendo have now officially confirmed that Pokémon Legends: Z-A is set for release on October 16. This includes Pokémon Legends: Z-A for Switch and the Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Head below for more and details on the upcoming pre-order launch. 

Some credible sources already tipped us to upcoming Switch 2 stock at Target, but now it’s official. The national retailer has now updated its Switch 2 landing page on the official site with some details on when you can expect to get another chance to land Nintendo’s highly sought-after next-generation console, in-store and online. 

As we reported previously, Best Buy has already officially confirmed with gadgetnewsonline regarding details on more Switch 2 console stock coming available on launch day as part of its midnight release event. It has now also sent over some official imagery of the collectible coin select lucky customers will get a chance at that night as well. 

While Best Buy, Target, and GameStop have all now confirmed more Switch 2 units will be in-stock for launch day (and potentially online the following day on June 6), Nintendo is going to offer its new console and accessories directly too. It has announced that its two flagship stores in New York City and the recently launched location in San Francisco will also be selling Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, software and accessories, and not just on launch day. 

Target is now expected to have more Switch 2 stock up for grabs in the coming weeks. Now just over 2 weeks away from the official June 5 launch date, a reliable source is calming that Target will indeed have units available soon for folks who didn’t manage to land a pre-order last month. 

While Switch 2 is still just over three weeks out from launch, a new report suggests Samsung has already been pushing to get an OLED display on the new console. While Nintendo decided to launch and debut the Switch 2 with an upgraded LCD display, its main electronics manufacturing partner already has its eye on the Switch 2 OLED launch. 

While there does appear to be some folks still receiving emails directly from Nintendo to pre-order Switch 2, but looks like the next notable chance to land one is going tor launch day, and another major retailers has confirmed it will have more units up for grabs. 

Several manufacturers, including Lexar and Samsung, have released new Express microSD cards in the months following the Switch 2 announcement. Now, PNY is joining them with its new offerings, and it’s latest memory cards come with 128GB and 256GB storage, both capable of delivering read and write speeds of up to 890MB/s. The prices for these start at $44.99 shipped, and you can grab them now from Amazon. Head below for a closer look and more details.

As we detailed previously, not only are there new Switch 2 Edition games, Switch 2 exclusives, and Switch 1 games you can play on your next-gen Nintendo console, but there are also a series of first-party Switch games getting FREE updates for Switch 2. This we already knew, but at the time Nintendo was incredibly vague about what these updates actually were, and now we have official details. 

Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch game lineup features more than a few major AAA ports of already released titles, and it sounds like the open-world wild west epic Red Dead Redemption 2 might soon be one of them. Developer Rockstar has been supporting the Switch for years and is already on record stating its “long-standing relationship with Nintendo,” but the latest suggests RDR2 might be its first launch on Switch 2. 

Update: Nintendo has officially confirmed via a statement that the Switch 2 only supports VRR in handheld mode. A Nintendo spokesperson shared this information with the folks over at Nintendo Life. The brand removed the mentions of VRR in docked mode from its official website, and confirmed the same via a statement with an apology for the confusion. More details about its processor are in the original post below.

It’s no secret that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be a major step up in performance, but what’s actually under the hood? Nintendo’s official specs sheet says it has a “custom processor made by Nvidia,” but what exactly is this new chip and what can we expect from it? A recent deep dive from Digital Foundry sheds light on the hardware powering Nintendo’s next-gen console. Hit the jump for more details and a quick side-by-side comparison of the original Switch and the Switch 2’s specifications.

Today we are taking a look at what some might consider a more affordable Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller alternative, the HORIPAD Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2. While I was a fan of the original Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and our early hands-on impressions of the latest model are favorable, it is in many ways just a regular controller for Switch 2, an official one sure, but for the most part just your average gamepad that delivers a more traditional feel, and one that will cost you $85 to pre-order. 

NBC Universal might have just accidentally confirmed the name of the upcoming Mario movie sequel as part of its 100th anniversary celebrations. The Super Mario Bros. movie took the gaming world and the silver screen by storm back in 2023, and we might have a better idea of what Shigeru Miyamoto meant when he said the team was “thinking about broadening Mario’s world further” for the sequel. 

There’s no telling how long this one might last folks, so if you’re soon-to-be a Switch 2 owner and a Nintendo switch Online member, you might want to go secure the new wireless Nintendo GameCube Controller now that pre-orders are now live directly from Nintendo. 

Yesterday we spotted the official Best Buy Switch 2 landing page specifically mentioning more console stock was inbound for launch day. Best Buy then quickly removed this mention altogether leaving most folks confused as to whether or not this was some kind of mistake or if it realized it wasn’t going to have any more units come next month. Best Buy has now official reached out to us to confirm more units are coming. Details below. 

Best Buy has now confirmed a Switch 2 re-stock. Pre-orders came and went quite quickly on the eve of April 24 last month with a quick, and particularly short-lived re-stock at Walmart the following weekend, but stock has been essentially gone since then. As we reported previously, it appear as though some major retailers are now readying more units for launch day, and Best Buy has now confirmed it will have more units. 

Today might be your last chance to secure a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order folks. Switch 2 pre-orders came and went awfully quick at the tail end of last month. While we did catch a quick re-stock at Walmart that more than a few gadgetnewsonline readers were able to take advantage of the following weekend, console pre-orders in the U.S. (and basically everywhere else) have been long gone since then. Most major retailers, including Walmart, have now updated their Switch 2 console listings to ready for launch day – this appears to be the next chance we’ll have to score one at retail, but there is still a chance to land a pre-order, is not a big chance, but there is still hope as Nintendo’s invites will go out starting tomorrow. 

Now under one month before the official release date, Nintendo has officially reveled all of the new user icons it is introducing for Switch 2. As part of today’s update in the official new Nintendo Today! app on iOS and Android. 

The Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 is going up for pre-order today at Amazon for Star Wars Day 2025. During a special presentation in Japan, Ubisoft revealed the game’s new A Pirate’s Fortune expansion pack for all platforms while also confirming the game is coming to Switch 2 later this fall. 

Switch 2 pre-orders never went live on Amazon in the U.S. – some outlets suggested they likely will, others were much less optimistic. While Amazon stopped carrying most first-party Switch games previously, it would still somehow have stock popping up during major sales, but, while there is still an official Nintendo storefront on Amazon, just about everything on there is sold by third-party sellers at this point. In Canada however, for our friends north of the border, this isn’t entirely the case as pre-order listings for Switch 2 did go live there (to some degree) and invites to purchase one are still being sent out. 

Don’t forget that some Switch 1 games are getting FREE Switch 2 upgrades. Outside of how difficult it was for some folks to secure a Switch 2 pre-order, most of the not-so positive talk surrounding the next-generation of Switch 2 gaming has been about the price. Nintendo is charging $10 to $20 for upgrade packs on Switch 2 Edition Switch 1 games like Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart World carries a $79.99 list price, and that Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour system demo game thing that should be FREE is $10. But there are some Switch 1 games that are getting FREE SWitch 2 upgrades. Let’s dig in. 

The Nintendo Star Wars Day sale is now live. It was only a matter of time before Nintendo kicked off its now annual May the 4th sale on Switch games courtesy of the eShop and everything is now ready to roll with a sizable selection of just about every Star Wars title on the platform now marked down for the biggest day in the galaxy. 

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders have now likely come and gone for good, and that leaves us to think about the games we will be playing come June 5 for launch and beyond. And even if you didn’t get a chance to secure a console, all signs point to there being another run of units ready for launch day before the rest of the 2025 Switch 2 titles start to release. We have already detailed and updated our growing list of Switch 2 launch games and launch window titles, but let’s look at some of the other titles still expected to be landing on the next-generation of Nintendo hardware. 

On top of getting the official release date, pre-order date, price, and some hands-on time to actually play the console, Nintendo and its partners have now detailed the Switch 2 launch games. Not only do we know just about exactly what major first-party Nintendo games will be launching on day one for Switch 2, but as part of yesterday’s Direct festivities, it also showed off a host of its own games as well as some ports and major third-party releases coming to Switch 2 in 2025. Down below we have begun to collect all of the Switch 2 launch games and all of the major titles that are scheduled to hit the system throughout the rest of the year for your reference. 

Update 5/2: After Walmart’s Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch 2 Mario Kart World listings disappeared, they are now back and officially marked as coming back in-stock for launch day on June 5:

• Nintendo Switch 2 Console
• Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle

As I’m sure you know by now, Nintendo finally kicked off pre-orders for Switch 2 in the U.S. and Canada last week – they sold out almost immediately. Some folks were lucky and some folks weren’t on April 24, but just as our sources confirmed, there was a short but very sweet Switch 2 pre-order re-stock at Walmart this past weekend and some folks confirmed to have actually scored one over 48 hours after the internet reported they were entirely sold out. While we may or may not see another pre-order re-stock before launch, there is some light at the end of the warp pipe. 

After Nintendo confirmed that it would not be raising prices on Switch 2 the way it did on the accessories, we also got confirmation that it would be holding strong on Switch 2 exclusive games and the Switch 2 Edition releases as well. Donkey Kong Bananza, Mario Kart World, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Editions, as well as Kirby and The Forgotten Land and Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Editions, both with the already announced expansion packs, are all going to be big ticket items that are going up for pre-order tonight alongside the console. 

Update 4/26: Walmart is now showing Nintendo Switch 2 and the Mario Kart World bundle pre-orders in-stock:

Walmart – Nintendo Switch 2 preorder 

• Nintendo Switch 2 Console
• Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle

Did Switch 2 pre-orders sell out? Yes, and quick too, but there might still be hope. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and GameStop all sold out shortly after going live yesterday, as just about everyone expected. It seems as though plenty of folks were able to land one, but not everyone was so lucky. That leaves some of us waiting, wondering, and hoping that someone, somewhere might still have some stock on the way, and it appears as though some of the retailers that might not have been on the top of your list might still be readying some pre-sale options for Switch 2. 

The official listing for the new wireless Nintendo GameCube controller is now live on the Nintendo site and we now know when it will go up for sale. Nintendo announced its new Switch Online GameCube library for Switch 2 as part of its Direct presentation at the top of the month and, along with it, the new modern take on the GameCube Controller we know will be available for purchase starting next month. 

Let’s take a look at the official Switch accessory pre-orders. Securing an actual Switch 2 console has been a frustrating process for some and an exciting one for others, whether you got one or not really, and while the big three – Walmart, Target, and Best Buy – are currently out of stock on the console, we might very well see additional units go live throughout the day and the coming weeks, not to mention some of the hold out retailers like Sam’s Club and Newegg that already have listings up that haven’t gone in stock yet. All of that said, if you did get lucky and secure one, or know you will at some point, the Switch Edition/Exclusive games are still in-stock right now and so are the official Switch accessories like the Switch 2 Pro Controller. 

Switch 2 pre-orders went live late last night at Walmart, Target, and Best Buy – it’s GameStop’s turn this morning. While it was about as frustrating as everyone was imaging last night for some folks, it does appear as though plenty of us actually did secure one – it was hit or miss here at the 9to5 offices. But if you weren’t one of the lucky ones, GameStop is scheduled to have Switch 2 pre-orders live this morning at 8 a.m. PT/11 a.m. ET online. 

Update 4/24: Switch 2 pre-orders are scheduled go live again this morning at GameStop.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are now live at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and more. Nintendo hosted its long-awaited Switch 2 Direct on April 2, 2025 after officially unveiling the new Switch 2 console back in January, and, after pre-orders were initially delayed, they are finally set to go live at (just about) all major retailers in the U.S any minute, and it might be a good idea to go get in the queue folks, just in case.

Nintendo hosted its latest Direct showcase today – it was (mostly) good times all around, with a closer look at the big Switch 2 launch title, Mario Kart World. But after all of the sweet wall riding, drive-thru costume pickups, Mega Mushrooms, and gigantic P-Switches, there’s still no pre-order date and I couldn’t help buy be fixated on the fact that the new Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle is actually a limited-run offer. 

What time do Switch 2 pre-orders start in Canada? Walmart Canada has now confirmed exactly what time Switch 2 pre-orders will begin. We have already reported on exactly when pre-orders will begin at Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and GameStop here in the U.S., but we also want to make sure our friends up north are ready to go as well. Nintendo officially delayed pre-orders in Canada to fall in-line with those in the U.S. and that is indeed what has happened as they will begin early morning on April 24 north of the border as well. 

We are now under 12 hours out from the launch of Switch 2 pre-orders and it’s going to be a total free-for-all in quite potentially the worst way possible. Will there even be close to enough Switch 2 units to go around tonight? Probably not. Will everyone who actually goes to pre-order one at midnight tonight actually get one? Almost certainly not. But while everyone is refreshing like ravenous dog at Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, there are some other sources of Switch 2 pre-orders to consider if you don’t have any luck later tonight. 

Update: According to an official Best buy listing, we can now confirm the price of the Kirby and The Forgotten Land Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs – it is listed at $19.99 to upgrade from the base Switch 1 version to the Switch 2 Edition with the expansion packs. Most folks believe this will also be the case for Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition

Update: Nintendo has now officially confirmed (via IGN) the upgrade pack price for the Switch Edition versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is $9.99 – they are still FREE for Switch Online  + Expansion members

How much will Switch 2 Edition games cost? How much will it cost to upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition version of the Switch games you already own? Nintendo has released some official details that give us a very good idea of the prices we will be getting here. We have been seeing gamers asking a lot about all of this, so let’s dive into the details. 

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are going live tonight at just about all major retailers across the U.S. and Canada. Nintendo has announced that pre-orders will begin on April 24 – they will actually start late tonight on April 23 if you’re on the west coast (more details below on this) – and at the same price it initially announced in early April. Despite the delays and market uncertainty in the wake of global tariffs, Nintendo has held firm on the June 5 releases date as well as the price both of the standard Switch 2 console and the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle, and pre-orders will go live in well under 24 hours now. 

Now just 24 hours away from go time, we now know what time Switch 2 pre-orders will go live at Best Buy. Up until now, only Target, Walmart, and GameStop had officially confirmed exactly what time pre-orders would begin for Switch 2 on April 24 this week, leaving Best Buy as the last major hold out to confirm the go time. 

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, according to a recently spotted PEGI rating. We already have a good idea of the games that will be launching for Switch 2 starting right from day 1 on June 5 through to holiday 2025 and even beyond – FromSoftware’s Switch 2 exclusive The Duskbloods has been slated for a 2026 launch. On top of a slew of all new Switch 2 exclusive titles from Nintendo, the Switch 2 Edition enhanced titles, and a collection of third-party ports, after Ubisoft confirmed the release date for its latest AAA Start Wars release last week it looks as though the latest entry in the long-running and beloved Assassin’s Creed series will be following along shortly. 

Let’s take a look at all of the new Mario Kart World characters now that Nintendo has fully revealed its new flagship Switch 2 game. The Mario Kart series has been one of the most popular Nintendo releases for years and the new Mario Kart World is going to get off to a serious Boost Start if the Switch 2 bundle sells out as fast as it seems like it’s going too. This year Nintendo is not only taking its mascot racer open-world, but it is also introducing some new Drive-Thru costume mechanics, a host of new courses, new items to throw at your friends, and a sizable expansion to the roster of racers. 

Update 4/21: Confirmed Switch 2 pre-order start times as of today:

• Best Buy April 24 at 12 a.m. ET online
• Target April 24 at 12 a.m. ET online
• Walmart April 24 at 12 a.m. ET online 
• GameStop April 24 at 11 a.m. ET online (and when local in-store opens)

Nintendo has officially announced the new April 24 pre-order date for its highly sought-after next-generation console, but what time will Switch 2 pre-orders begin that day? It’s hard to imagine there actually being enough consoles to go around next week, but only time will tell and being ready to pull the trigger in a timely fashion is likely going to be very important.

Let’s-a-go! Nintendo has now officially announced that Switch 2 pre-orders will begin next week in the U.S. No more leaks, no rumors, no maybes, this is it…the real thing (again). And on top of that, pricing will remain exactly the same as was initially announced. 

Nintendo has now finally announced the official new pre-order date for Switch 2 in the U.S. – they go live in one week’s time! The other great news, Nintendo is not raising the price on either the base console at $449.99 or the Mario Kart World bundle at $499.99 – whoo! It has also announced that it is holding firm on the pricing for Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza at $79.99 and $69.99, while also making some “pricing adjustments” on the official Switch 2 accessories – pricing is unfortunately going up on these folks. You can see the actual numbers below. 

We are all still, of course, awaiting official word from Nintendo on when pre-orders will finally go live for Switch 2 – dataminers are still suggesting it could go live sometime next week based on dates from retailers – but we do have an update on the launch window games. May the 4th, or Star Wars Day, is fasting-approaching now, we have already got an official announcement from LEGO on its plans and, just as we expected, we do have a Nintendo announcement from a galaxy far, far away – Star Wars Outlaws is coming to Nintendo Switch 2.