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How to (Possibly) Get the Nintendo Switch 2 Without a Pre-Order

Originally posted on Nerdist | By Tai Gooden | Last updated Jun 4, 2025 12:26 PM ET

After years of speculation and a lot of waiting, the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 is almost here. Fans of the handheld console went into battle online to pre-order it a few weeks ago. And of course, not everyone was able to secure a Switch 2 before its June 5 release date. Maybe you are that person. If so, you’re not alone, friend. I ain’t got one either! So, what do we do? How can we possibly get a Switch 2 without a pre-order? It may not be as impossible as you think.

There are several stores that will have Nintendo Switch 2’s in stock on release day. Of course, these are first-come, first-serve for folks like us who are just walking in and trying our luck. But, there are quite a few brick and mortar retailers that will have stock.

You may have to call and see what their stock levels are and make the choice that works best for you. And, other retailers are having specific events or processes to secure a Switch 2. Let’s break down a few of them.

Getting a Switch 2 From Best Buy

According to this retailer’s website, a majority of its stores will have midnight ET releases and some will have inventory for those without a pre-order. You’ll have to adjust that hour depending on your US time zone. So it is best to call your store up, confirm when they will open up for Switch 2 sales.

GameStop Will Have a Switch 2 Pre-Release Event

There will be midnight releases at GameStop, but some stores are apparently doing a pre-release event on June 4. Whether that’s happening at all stores and what that means exactly is unknown.

Didn't pre-order Switch 2? We got you. pic.twitter.com/6Xa4QUzM3g
GameStop (@gamestop) May 16, 2025

But it seems the retailer is encouraging those who didn’t get a Switch 2 pre-order to come into the stores and see if they can snag one. Again, the best course of action is to reach out to your local store soon.

Target Will Dish out Switch 2 Tickets for Those Without Pre-Orders

If you’re heading to Target to get your Switch 2, you won’t want to show up at midnight unless you like sleeping outside. The store will not do releases that early and will open at its regular time. For my local Target, that is 8AM ET.

You can line up with other hopefuls and, if you’re lucky, you’ll get a ticket to purchase one console. It’s not clear what the stock levels will be at any given store, which determines the number of tickets you’ll receive. But, if you’re in a smaller town, you may luck out without so much competition.

Walmart’s Website Might Tell You How Many Switch 2 Consoles Are Available

The rumor is that some Walmart stores are brave enough to tell gamers exactly how many consoles will be on sale. When I checked for my local Walmart online, I could not see that information. And it doesn’t seem like the retailer will open early nor do a midnight release. But people may want to avoid the store anyway considering there are pre-orders that ended up getting cancelled. Interesting.

Costco Cuts the Competition Among Those Without a Switch 2 Pre-Order

Costco will have some Switch 2 consoles for hopeful buyers. The good thing about Costco is that you have to have a membership to go into the store, so there’s less people to compete with. It is not clear how many each store will have; however, there was no pre-order option so those won’t factor into its numbers. And, Costco will only allow a person to buy one console at a time.

It’s time to strategize and try to grab that Switch 2. Good luck!

This article first appeared on Nerdist and was syndicated with permission.

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