Itâs been a while since we saw a new preorder item this big go live. Nintendo is planning to unveil the Switch 2 in a super-sized 60-minute Nintendo Direct tomorrow, April 2. We expect to learn all about the next-gen consoleâs new features, along with its launch lineup of games, and maybe even new accessories and peripherals. We also expect to learn when you can preorder the Nintendo Switch 2.
Whether preorders go live tomorrow or at some point in the future, youâll want to be ready when they do. Here are some pro tips from the IGN commerce team on how to prepare to preorder the Nintendo Switch 2.
Follow IGN Deals
When a major piece of gaming hardware goes up for preorder at a retailer, thereâs no telling how long it will be available. Weâve seen sought-after hardware sell out in seconds. The best and most reliable way to know when a listing goes live is to follow IGN Deals on Twitter/X or Bluesky and keep an eye on those accounts in real time. Wario64 and CAG are also reliable sources of links the moment they become available.
During and after the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct (which starts April 2, 2025 at 6am PDT / 9am EDT / 2pm BST), weâll be in the trenches, posting links the moment they become available.
Log Into Your Retailer Accounts
Thereâs no point in clicking a live preorder link early if youâre not logged in. The precious seconds it takes to enter your login name and password could make the difference between you getting a Nintendo Switch 2 at launch and not. The retailers below are all likely to have Switch 2 preorders, so create an account if you have to, and make sure youâre logged in tomorrow morning, in case Switch 2 preorders go live.
Have Your Credit Card Saved in Your Account
The next step is to make sure your credit card info is entered in at the above retailers so you donât have to type numbers with your excited fingers as everyone else on the planet buys a Switch 2 before you can.
Don’t Despair if You Miss Out at a Retailer
With big ticket items like the Switch 2, the preorder links rarely go live at the same time across all the retailers. Often, Best Buy’s link goes up first, followed a few minutes later by GameStop and Walmart. Amazon is usually the wild card of the bunch, sometimes going live hours (or even days) later. So if you miss the chance to preorder from one retailer, stay tuned to see if others will have Switch 2 preorders in stock a little later.
There’s even a chance a given retailer will get additional preorders after its initial stock has run out. And even if you miss out preordering at all of the retailers, local brick-and-mortar stores may get stock on launch day. And failing that, even if stock is scarce at launch, Nintendo will catch up with demand at some point, so remain steadfast.
Avoid Switch 2 Scams and Resellers
Anytime a hard-to-buy piece of gaming hardware goes up for preorder, out come the opportunists. You can bet shady sites and resellers on eBay will be primed and ready to capitalize on this moment. Some sites will make their original Switch stock seem like Switch 2 stock. Others will take their actual Switch 2 preorders, crank the price sky high, and re-sell them at a massive profit. If you fail to secure a Switch 2 preorder at a legit retailer when they go live, please donât pay large sums of money to these people looking to make an easy buck. Itâs almost always better to wait until more stock becomes available at a site you trust.
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.