Nintendo’s closely followed Switch 2 has been greeted with record interest as preorders opened on Thursday night in the United States at midnight. Yet the anticipation was quickly followed by frustration for numerous impatient consumers who found themselves facing delays, bugs, and sold-out inventory within minutes of attempting to order their devices. With Nintendo set to launch the Switch 2 officially on June 5, the high demand indicates the sheer level of excitement surrounding the next-generation version of the successful hybrid console.

The Frenzied Rush for Preorders
As midnight approached on Thursday, there were thousands of shoppers rushing to big online retailers, eager to grab one of the initial units of the Nintendo Switch 2. The successor to the highly successful Nintendo Switch, which became one of the top-selling consoles in history earlier, is set to revolutionize the gaming experience with state-of-the-art technology, new functionality, and a range of thrilling new games.

Stores like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and GameStop all opened up their preorder systems at midnight, but the experience was anything but smooth. As many shoppers were able to get their preorders early, the process soon became hell for others. Users complained of long wait times, sites that crashed, and pages which would not load correctly.

On social media, angry customers vented their frustrations as they discovered that their desired consoles were listed as “sold out” in mere minutes of trying to place an order. The Nintendo Switch 2 had apparently struck a chord among both serious gamers and casual gamers alike, with an overburdening swell of demand that crashed its systems.

“I was logged on the moment it was available and within minutes, all of the big sites I checked were out. It is annoying because I have been looking forward to this for months,” wrote one member, who was unable to obtain a preorder. Numerous others shared similar feelings, griping about how little stock was offered in the initial round of preorders.

The Demand Behind the Chaos
The Nintendo Switch 2 continues a remarkably successful series of hybrid consoles that perfectly integrates the handheld and console gaming experiences. The first Nintendo Switch, released in 2017, was a global phenomenon due to its portability and the popularity of first-party titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey.

Nevertheless, enthusiasts have long anticipated the release of the next generation of the console, and the reveal of the Switch 2 created widespread excitement. The enhanced platform boasts better graphics, a new processor, longer battery life, and advanced gameplay capabilities like increased support for cloud gaming and more multiplayer functions. All of these are designed to render the Switch 2 an even more attractive option for serious gamers as well as casual users.

Numerous industry experts have forecasted that the Switch 2 will not only continue in the footsteps of success of its predecessor but also compete even more squarely with other top consoles available in the market, including Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X. This has fueled further demand, particularly among those seeking a more flexible gaming experience that combines both traditional home gaming with the convenience of a handheld unit.

Additionally, the Switch 2’s large game library, which will include new games as well as remastered versions of iconic Nintendo games, has generated much anticipation. As the expectation of fan favorites like Super Mario Bros. 3 and new additions to the Metroid and Pokémon series looms, the Switch 2 is set to shake the world of gaming when it becomes officially available in June 2025.

Frustrations Mount as Preorders Sell Out
As was to be anticipated, the opening rush for preorders on Switch 2 materialized. In how quickly the consoles were being sold out stunned many. Some retailers were either sold out in their first round of allocations within hours of availability or encountered major technical glitches. Others found themselves trapped in miles-long virtual waiting lines, yet others met up with error pages, no option to order at all.

Even for those fortunate enough to have ordered, many have complained about delivery dates. Although some retailers had guaranteed fulfillment by June 5, others reported delayed shipping dates for their orders that were behind schedule, implying that demand had surpassed expectations.

On social media, the frenzy over preorders was a trending hashtag. Fans and angry customers clogged up comment sections, some asking for tips on how to better get a preorder, while others vented about not being able to get consoles.

“I was able to get one, but the wait was agonizing. The site kept crashing. I don’t know how they weren’t more prepared for this,” another frustrated customer said.

As big as the problems were, though, there were some success stories. Some canny consumers made use of auto-refresh tools and browser extensions, but even they were hit and miss.

Another Opportunity on June 5
For those who were left out of the initial round of preorders, all hope is not lost. Nintendo has stated that there will be a second opportunity for customers to buy the Switch 2 from its website on June 5, the day of official release. Although this second opportunity might provide some relief, there are fears that the problems with the preorder process will result in further issues on launch day.

Nintendo has not issued an official announcement regarding what it will do to meet the huge demand and prevent problems such as website crashes and stock deficiencies. Many consumers have called for Nintendo to look into better preorder structures or build up more stock to keep from having a repeat of the mess that occurred on Thursday.

The Conclusion: A Testament to Nintendo’s Popularity
Despite the technical issues and frustration experienced by many customers, the sheer demand for the Nintendo Switch 2 is a testament in itself to the continued popularity of the Nintendo brand and the resilience of its gaming ecosystem. The fans are clamoring for the next installment in the Switch saga, and although the preorder experience might have been hectic, the anticipation for the console’s official launch will probably be just as fierce.

For the unfortunate ones that missed out this time, June 5 is also a new opportunity to claim a Switch 2 and partake in the next level of gaming. In between, meanwhile, fans will simply continue anxiously awaiting new announcements from Nintendo as they race against time to accommodate the monstrous demand for their upcoming major console.