Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders: A Skeptic’s Guide to the Hype

Nintendo announces Switch 2 pre-orders starting April 24 in the US and Canada, with prices holding steady at $450, but with a catch on accessories and pre-order priorities.

Ah, the Nintendo Switch 2. The latest shiny object to distract the masses (because who needs savings, right?). Nintendo has finally decided to let us know when we can start lining up to hand over our hard-earned cash for their new console. Circle April 24 on your calendar if you’re in the US or Canada—that’s when the fun begins. The base model? A cool $450. Want the bundle with Mario Kart World? That’ll be $500, please. And in a move that’s about as surprising as rain in Seattle, some accessories are getting a price bump thanks to ‘market conditions.’ How… predictable.

Pre-ordering directly from Nintendo isn’t just a click-and-buy affair. Oh no. You’ve got to be 18, have a Nintendo account, and basically send them a love letter expressing your interest. Then, if the stars align, you might get an invite. But here’s the real kicker: if you’ve shelled out for at least 12 months of Nintendo Switch Online and clocked 50 gameplay hours by April 2, 2025, you’re at the front of the line. Because nothing says ‘we appreciate you’ like making you jump through hoops to give them more money.

Not into Nintendo’s pre-order shenanigans? You’re in luck. The console will also be up for grabs at places like Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop. Will they pull the same nonsense? Let’s hope not, but this is the gaming industry we’re talking about.

In a shocker that absolutely no one saw coming, Nintendo’s also floating the idea of future price hikes, all thanks to those pesky ‘market conditions.’ On the bright side, they’re moving production to Vietnam to avoid tariffs—because why pay more when you can just move the goalposts? The Switch 2’s got a bigger screen, better specs, and new Joy-Cons featuring a C button and mouse controls. Because apparently, we needed more buttons to accidentally press.

So, there it is. The Switch 2 is on its way, complete with all the corporate hoopla you’d expect. Is it worth the price and the hassle? That’s for you to decide. But let’s be real—it’s just another gadget in a world full of them.