Though some enthusiasm for the Nintendo Switch 2 has started to wane due to the price of its games, that doesn't seem to have hurt its sales all that much. Pre-orders, at least in the United States, quickly sold out. This isn't too strange for a new video game console, and there are likely some resellers looking to try and flip the Switch 2, which could contribute to them selling out so quickly. This is also likely why Nintendo gave players the option to pre-order directly from the company.

Instead of pre-ordering through retailers, Nintendo had an option to for a Switch 2 pre-order invite. These invites started getting sent out via email on May 8, giving the recipients 72 hours to decide whether they want to order a Switch 2 or not. Initially, this seemed like the best option for pre-ordering a Switch 2, especially because it meant not having to stand in a long line outside a retailer with the hopes of getting a console. However, I'm starting to think I made a mistake waiting for Nintendo's invite.

Nintendo's Switch 2 Pre-Order Seemed Like The Safe Option

Ordering Directly From Nintendo Means Less Chance An Order Gets Canceled

While I have fond memories of sleeping outside my local Target with my family back when the Nintendo Wii came out, the idea of getting to pre-order a Switch 2 directly from Nintendo seemed like a safer option than trying to secure one from a retailer. Not only would I not have to worry about the rush, it seemed far less likely that Nintendo would cancel a pre-order for any reason. After all, Nintendo doesn't have to worry about allocation and not getting as many systems as they initially ordered.

Another aspect of Nintendo's pre-order that attracted me was the requirements to qualify for a priority invite. Nintendo sent invites out to players who had been subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online for over a year, had more than 50 hours of gameplay logged, and had shared their play data with the company. I liked that Nintendo was prioritizing provably engaged players to help avoid consoles going to resellers that just wanted to make a profit off their Switch 2 order.

While I did cancel my NSO hip for a short time, I had emails going back to 2022 about yearly subscriptions with the Expansion Pack, so I figured I was good on that end. I also assumed my play hours were high enough, and I could see on Nintendo's website that I'd been sharing my data. Since I was pretty sure I qualified for a priority pre-order, I signed up and didn't think twice about ignoring pre-orders going live at retailers. After all, I figured I was set and wouldn't have to worry because I'd presumably be getting a priority invite.

Waiting For A Nintendo Invite Made Me Miss My Chance To Pre-Order A Switch 2

Retail Pre-Orders Started April 24, And Invites Didn't Go Out Until May 8

Since May 8, I've been diligently checking my email and spam folder for any word from Nintendo about my Switch 2 pre-order. I had initially ed on April 3, the day after the Switch 2 Direct, so I figured I probably wouldn't be in the first round of emails. Still, I assumed I'd get one early on, especially because I'm pretty sure I qualify for a priority invite. At this point, multiple three-day windows have gone by since invites started, and I still have no word from Nintendo.

The more I wait, the more I start to think that maybe it was a mistake to simply ignore pre-orders from retailers in favor of getting an invitation from Nintendo. It's frustrating that Nintendo waited until after pre-orders went live in stores on April 24 to start sending invites. Had the invite process started earlier, and I realized that I wouldn't be getting one, I would at least have had the option to try and get one from a local retailer. Instead, everywhere near me was completely sold out by the time the first round of invites went out.

Now, I trust Nintendo when they say invites will be going out on a rolling basis and I will eventually get one. However, that doesn't guarantee that I'll be getting a Switch 2 at launch. While I'm still interested in playing Mario Kart World, even if it means waiting a little extra time, being able to cover the game at release was part of my reasoning behind g up for a Switch 2 pre-order in the first place. Since I probably won't get the system at launch, I might just wait for it to drop in price before buying it.

The Switch 2 Is More Readily Available In Other Regions

My Nintendo Store UK Opened Up Pre-Orders To All Customers

Waiting for my Switch 2 pre-order invite probably wouldn't feel like such a mistake if my experience was universal. However, players in certain regions have no issue ordering a Switch 2 directly from Nintendo. As covered by VGC, My Nintendo Store UK made Switch 2 pre-orders available to everyone on May 15, no invite or proof of NSO subscription needed. My Deputy Editor, Lara Jackson, confirmed she was easily able to secure a pre-order that day, and that the following day UK retailer Currys made more Switch 2 pre-orders available.

Now, I know that Nintendo isn't just arbitrarily making it harder to get a Switch 2 in the United States. President Trump's tariffs and ongoing trade war have made importing goods to the US complicated. It's not entirely surprising that Nintendo would prioritize shipping product to countries where they don't have to deal with the same obstacles or added expenses instead of relying on the United States for sales. Still, that doesn't exactly make me feel like I made the right choice by g up for a pre-order from them as opposed to trying to get one through a retailer.

Between initially writing this article and its eventual publication, Nintendo emailed me assuring me that I was still in queue to eventually receive a pre-order invitation. While this is more communication than I originally gave them credit for, they still didn't give me any indication as to when I might expect my invite.

I think it would have been nice for Nintendo to be a bit more transparent about how direct Switch 2 pre-orders were going to work, and when we might expect to get them based on when we ed. At the very least, they could have made it more clear whether someone qualified for a priority pre-order, as I've been left wondering if maybe I didn't meet all the requirements I thought I did. There are currently no tariffs on emails, so a little more communication would have been appreciated before giving up my chance to pre-order somewhere else.

Source: VGC