Nintendo Switch 2 launch – live: I’ve just got my console, here’s how to get yours – UK Times

Some eagle-eyed readers are very kindly helping me while I balance booting up Mario Kart World with stock drops.

Asda’s George is selling Nintendo Switch 2 consoles. They’ll arrive next week, but the stock is there.

I’m juggling unboxing this console and keeping an eye on stock, but if you want a closer look, here’s the screen on the Nintendo Switch 2:

The screen is larger than the original Switch, with nearly two extra inches on its predecessor.

Many writers reported that they wouldn’t receive a Nintendo Switch 2 console before the launch, so you can imagine how shocked I was when the doorbell went and, well:

After months of covering the console, it feels surreal to have it in front of me.

If you want to order a console, it won’t arrive in time for launch day, but you can still get your hands on one:

If you’re hoping to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 tonight, now’s a good time to get everything ready. Make sure you’re logged in to your retailer accounts, your payment details are saved, and delivery info is filled in. There’s nothing worse than having to make an account when all you want to do is buy a console.

Some sites (like the My Nintendo Store) will only let you buy the console if you have an active Switch Online membership, while others (like EE) require you to be a pay monthly customer.

Very and ShopTo are both still taking pre-orders right now, with delivery scheduled for next week – 9 June at ShopTo and 13 June at Very.

Since they’re already in stock, they’ll probably still be available at midnight, but nothing’s likely to change. If you’re aiming for launch day delivery, these aren’t the ones to watch.

Game? Don’t bother, I say. After cancelling some pre-orders last week, its FAQ now says: “We cannot guarantee there will be stock available in stores”. Right now, you can weirdly get a Switch 2 into your basket for £9,999. It might indicate a launch day restock, but who knows at this point.

Argos has confirmed it will go live at 6am with launch day stock for same-day click and collect, so set your alarm if you’re planning to try there.

Amazon is another one to watch. It had pre-order stock live for most of last week but hasn’t restocked since the weekend. Based on how it’s handled other console launches, I’m expecting stock to appear between 8am and 9:30am. Midnight feels unlikely.

John Lewis has confirmed the console will be available to buy on 5 June, but hasn’t said when. It doesn’t typically drop stock overnight, so a morning release is a safe bet.

It’s officially launch day in New Zealand, and people are already starting to receive their Nintendo Switch 2 consoles (or they’re collecting them in-person). New Year’s Eve energy.

It also looks like the day one update has rolled out globally, so anyone who’s managed to get a console early should now be able to upgrade their machine to play Mario Kart World.

If you’re staying up for launch, Smyths is the most reliable bet. Every store across the UK and Ireland is opening at 12am, and there’s a good chance it’ll have stock online around the same time.

The My Nintendo Store is also one to watch. There’s been no formal announcement, but it’s the official storefront – it has to go live at some point on Thursday. I’ll be checking it at midnight just in case.

Currys is a bit of a toss-up. It’s holding a midnight launch at its Oxford Street store, which makes it possible the site could update too, but given the old listings said “pick up within 1 hour”, there’s a chance it’s planning to go live in the morning for same-day click and collect. Still, I’ll be checking overnight.

There are reports that Switch 2 pre-orders are being cancelled across several US retailers, including Walmart, Target and Best Buy. Some customers have taken to Reddit and social media to say their orders were dropped without warning, just days before launch.

Some believe it might be due to retailers overselling their allocated stock, or last-minute stock issues related to tariffs and shipping delays.

Walmart has reportedly offered a few affected customers a $15 gift card by way of apology, and while GameStop posted saying it isn’t cancelling orders, a few people have replied with screenshots saying otherwise.

Right now, this only seems to be affecting US orders. Besides Game, I haven’t seen any other orders getting cancelled.

If you’re in the US, you’ll be able to pre-order a console at most major retailers tomorrow. I’ve got all the details in the article below:

John Lewis has confirmed that the Switch 2 will be available to buy on launch day. Its listings now read: “Pre-orders are now sold out. Available to buy from 5 June 2025.”

That suggests a restock is definitely coming, though there’s no exact time listed yet. John Lewis doesn’t usually do midnight drops, so I’m expecting stock to go live sometime in the morning. If you’re planning to try your luck, it’s worth checking at around 7am – that’s when the PS5 used to go live.