Nintendo’s highly anticipated Switch 2 console has generated significant excitement in the lead-up to its summer debut, with pre-orders swiftly selling out across major US retailers.
The new device, priced at $450 (approximately Rs. 38,450), is set to hit shelves on June 5. Websites for retailers such as Walmart, Best Buy, and Target show that pre-orders are currently unavailable. Initial reports from Nintendo enthusiasts indicated some technical issues attributed to the overwhelming demand, but many users eventually succeeded in placing their orders, according to comments on platforms like X and other social media. Nintendo has yet to provide a comment regarding the situation.
The robust consumer response in the US suggests that the launch could become one of the largest in gaming history. Despite concerns over its price—$150 (around Rs. 12,816) higher than its predecessor—and a challenging economic environment, demand for the long-awaited console remains high. In Japan, Nintendo has disclosed that it received an impressive 2.2 million applications for a lottery sale on its official site.
Hideki Yasuda, an analyst with Toyo Securities, projected that Switch 2 sales in Japan during its launch week could range from 800,000 to one million units, potentially translating to approximately five million units sold globally within the same time frame. Such rapid sales would be unparalleled.
Nintendo’s shares, traded in Tokyo, surged by up to 3.3 percent on Friday, indicating a favorable market sentiment and a potential three-day winning streak.
Meanwhile, GameStop, the largest video game retailer in the US, strategically timed its pre-orders to coincide with the opening of its stores at around 11 a.m. New York time on Thursday, resulting in long lines outside its locations.
In Brooklyn, New York, a line began forming outside a GameStop four hours prior to its opening, with multiple customers sharing their frustration over failed online attempts to secure Switch 2 consoles. The physical queue turned out to be a more reliable option. A notice posted on the store door indicated that 125 units were available.
Jeremy Gauthier, a 27-year-old customer, expressed his struggle: “I was awake last night trying to get my pre-orders in with Target and Best Buy and Walmart. I wasn’t able to get it with any of them. My last hope was GameStop.”
Historically, GameStop has accounted for a significant portion—between one-third to one-half—of new console sales during the initial months of a launch in the US. The retailer holds a strong position among gamers compared to larger retail chains and caters to those looking to trade in older hardware for discounts on new purchases. For customers trading in older Switch consoles, GameStop is offering up to $175 (approximately Rs. 14,956 crore) in trade credit.
Nintendo has indicated that future price increases for its products in the US could be on the horizon, but the current activity in the online marketplace suggests that demand is likely to remain robust, regardless of any such changes to the core hardware’s pricing. In Japan, some online sellers are already listing the Switch 2 at a premium, with prices starting from JPY 90,000 ($630 or around Rs. 53,843) or higher, echoing the scarcity seen following the launch of Sony’s PlayStation 5 in 2020.
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