Essential Guide: Preparing for Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Order Success

The original article follows below.

While I wish to exist in a world where you could easily click “buy” and be guaranteed a console come launch day, it’s not so simple in reality. Hundreds of thousands of people, if not more, are going to be showing up simultaneously, putting a strain on both servers and allocated pre-order stock. In other words, you’ll be lucky to score a pre-order reservation.

That said, there are ways you can prepare yourself for whenever the Switch 2 goes up for pre-order in the hopes of boosting your chance of success. You can sign up to be among the first to know when retailers go live with pre-orders — and, if you’re a longtime Nintendo Switch player, you might be eligible to skip the usual online retailer rush.

How to pre-order Switch 2 at Nintendo

Starting with Nintendo, the company is accepting sign-ups for those hoping to reserve a Switch 2, but there are multiple requirements in place, likely to quash the number of consoles resellers can get their hands on. To express interest in pre-ordering a Switch 2 from Nintendo, you must do the following by April 2:

Only if you meet that criteria can you submit the form to express interest in reserving. That said, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be chosen to receive an invite. But if you are chosen, you’ll get an email from Nintendo on or after May 8 to purchase either the $449.99 model, or the $499.99 model that includes Mario Kart World. If you receive an invitation, you’ll have 72 hours to follow through with a purchase.

How to pre-order Switch 2 at Best Buy

Whether you qualify for Nintendo’s strict pre-order process or not, it’s a good idea to sign up for email notifications at Best Buy through this page. Doing so will ensure that you get an email with a specific pre-order time for the Switch 2. Additionally, it’ll loop you into a newsletter that’s only about the Switch 2, its games, and related content (you won’t receive other Best Buy newsletters).

How to pre-order Switch 2 at GameStop

Additionally, if you plan to pre-order at GameStop, you should know that it’s running a promotion beginning April 9 that lets customers get up to $175 trade-in credit for their Switch consoles when reserving a Switch 2. The amount of trade-in credit you’ll get depends on the model you’re trading in, as well as its condition and whether you have all of the components.