Nintendo Switch 2 Preorders Fumble on Initial Day with GameStop
Gamers, Avert Your Eyes: The Great Nintendo Switch 2 Debacle
Ah, the sweet taste of defeat. That's what we gamer folk were left with after the botched launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. Now, let's dive into the chaos that ensued when we tried to get our grubby hands on this elusive device from Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and, unfortunately, GameStop.
GameStop was our last glimmer of hope to secure a Nintendo Switch 2 for launch day, and boy, was it a horrific rollercoaster ride. At 11 a.m. ET on April 24, we eagerly tried our luck on their site and app, only to be met with a massive influx of requests that left both crashing almost immediately.
Excited much? Who needs confirmation emails or credit card charges when you can have a Cloudflare error 502 for a bad gateway instead! To give you an idea, even our trusty Gizmodo staff wasn't spared from this digital nightmare. The GameStop listing for the Switch 2, now a mere ghostly grayed-out box, eventually showed "Not Available." But wait, there was hope.
For a brief, fleeting moment, I managed to glimpse a red "Not Available" box that led me to a purchase page for the console. An order number was granted, and yet, no confirmation email and no appearance in my GameStop account. Strange, isn't it? Other buyers had similar experiences. GameStop later assured customers that those without a confirmation email should receive one shortly.
As for updates from GameStop, my requests fell on deaf ears. But you know the saying, no news is good news... or is it? At this point, it seemed as though the Switch 2 was a hard-to-find unicorn at most major retailers, at least until more stock returned.
The GameStop app, initially displaying an "Activity Paused" error, has since resurrected itself as of Thursday afternoon. However, the app was less than helpful, failing to load listings for both the $450 console-only model and the $500 Mario Kart World bundle.
GameStop eventually broke the silence, announcing that Nintendo Switch 2 preorders had sold out online and would work on squashing bot and duplicate orders to reopen inventory.
In-store preorders remained our last beacon of hope. Yes, we had to leave the safety and comfort of our homes and venture into the real world. Lines stretch across the U.S., with reports of massive queues at GameStop locations, some boasting up to 50 units or more available. Early birds managed to snatch receipts for the console. But, doc, we didn't storm the castle just yet. It's best to call ahead before wasting your time.
As of now, the Switch 2 is listed as sold out on Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. The question is, should we all get our cool-aid jugs and hunker down until June 5, the launch date? That'd give you plenty of time to read our well-researched reviews and reconsider whether you really need a new device to grace your homes.
This is a developing situation, so stay tuned for more updates as we get them. In the meantime, keep those hopes alive, but remember: be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions!
This is a developing story, so keep your eyes peeled for updates as they roll in.
References:[1] GameStop Stock Update: Nintendo Switch 2 Preorders Sell Out Online (nbcnews.com)[2] Nintendo Switch 2 Preorders: What to Know Before You Buy (nytimes.com)[3] GameStop Can't Handle the Hype: Switch 2 Preorders Sold Out (theverge.com)[4] GameStop Nintendo Switch 2 Preorders: Everything You Need to Know (ign.com)
- Despite the chaos and technical issues, some Gamestop consumers were able to secure a Nintendo Switch 2 order, but they didn't receive any confirmation emails or updates.
- GameStop's app, which initially displayed an "Activity Paused" error, has been updated again, yet it fails to load listings for both the Nintendo Switch 2 console and the Mario Kart World bundle.
- The Nintendo Switch 2 is listed as sold out on major retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, leaving in-store preorders as the last resort for many consumers.
- To avoid wasting time, it's best to call ahead before going to a GameStop store to inquire about the availability of the Nintendo Switch 2.
- Amidst the ongoing debacle, consumers are encouraged to keep their hopes alive and prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions as they await updates on the Nintendo Switch 2 availability from GameStop and other major retailers.
