Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Order: UK & Ireland Delays & Stock

If you’ve been refreshing retailer pages for a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order, you already know the frustration: units vanished within minutes across UK and Ireland, yet the console doesn’t officially launch until June 5, 2025. Here’s where things stand with pre-orders, delays, and what you can actually do right now.

Pre-orders live: My Nintendo Store UK · Ireland options: Smyth’s Toys, Currys · Status issues: Delays reported · Sold out claims: Multiple retailers

When can you pre-order Nintendo Switch 2?

Pre-order openings have varied by region. My Nintendo Store UK and Ireland began sending invitations from April 8, 2025, using an automatic invitation system for pre-orders (Nintendo Soup). The US and Canada originally faced a delay blamed on “economic uncertainty,” with pre-orders eventually opening April 24, 2025 after the postponement (YouTube reports).

Japan used a lottery system for My Nintendo Store pre-orders from April 4 to April 16, 2025, attracting over 2.2 million registrations (Stuart’s Pixel Games). Australia and New Zealand combined lottery entries with standard pre-order windows.

The invitation system mirrors My Nintendo Store protocols across regions. For UK buyers, this means creating or logging into a Nintendo Account, waiting for an invitation email from My Nintendo Store, and completing the purchase within the stated window.

General timeline

• April 2, 2025: US/Canada My Nintendo applications open
• April 3, 2025: UK major retailers report sell-outs
• April 8, 2025: My Nintendo UK/Ireland invitations begin
• June 5, 2025: Nintendo Switch 2 launch

Official announcements

Nintendo confirmed the June 5, 2025 launch with games rolling out alongside the hardware release (Nintendo Official). Payment processing through Nintendo eShop occurs 7 days before release.

Are Switch 2 pre-orders delayed?

Switch 2 pre-orders have faced delays across multiple markets. The US pre-order date was pushed from its original window to April 24, 2025, with Nintendo citing “economic uncertainty” as the reason for the postponement (YouTube reports). Beyond the US, retailers in the UK and Germany reported sell-outs within minutes of going live, with websites crashing from demand surges.

Japan experienced the most visible disruption: the Nintendo eShop remained down for 5 days during the lottery period, prompting a public apology from Nintendo (Stuart’s Pixel Games). This wasn’t a localized issue but part of a broader pattern of pre-order chaos.

Reasons for delays

Demand has consistently outpaced supply across regions. In France, retailer FNac sold 10,000 units in less than 12 hours — described as the fastest pre-order performance ever recorded (Stuart’s Pixel Games). Japan’s lottery system was necessary because insufficient stock existed to handle normal first-come-first-served demand.

Current status

UK and Ireland online pre-orders have been largely wiped clean, with availability remaining only through My Nintendo Store invitations and limited in-person stock at select retailers like Currys (Stuart’s Pixel Games). The US and Canada have seen some restocks at Walmart and GameStop, though Nintendo has warned that not all pre-orders will arrive on launch day.

Is the Switch 2 pre-order sold out?

Switch 2 pre-orders sold out instantly at 2 major UK retailers, with availability only remaining through Nintendo UK’s invite-only system and limited in-person stock at Currys (Icon-Era forum reports). Online pre-orders in the UK and Ireland were effectively wiped clean within minutes of going live.

The sell-out extended across at least 9 countries, with retailers including Amazon.de and MediaMarkt in Germany also reporting instant sell-outs (Stuart’s Pixel Games). US pre-orders sold out within minutes online, causing retailer websites to crash.

Sold out reports

The US launch faced particular scrutiny: Nintendo officially warned that pre-orders may not arrive on launch day, even as restocks appeared at Walmart and GameStop (YouTube reports). The pattern suggests high demand across markets with supply unable to match initial surges.

Availability checks

Some sold-out countries, including the US and Canada, have seen restocks occur (Stuart’s Pixel Games). France, while not fully sold out, reported historic sales levels at retailers like FNac. The UK and Ireland situation remains tighter, with online availability limited to My Nintendo Store invitations.

When can I pre-order Switch 2 in the UK?

The My Nintendo Store UK pre-order system opened invitations from April 8, 2025, following an invitation-only format rather than first-come-first-served (Nintendo Soup). This means checking your Nintendo Account email regularly for pre-order notifications is the key action.

Eligibility for My Nintendo Store UK invitations requires a Nintendo Account registered in the UK or Ireland, with at least 2 years of paid Nintendo Switch Online membership cited as a factor for selection (Stuart’s Pixel Games). Payment processing occurs through Nintendo eShop, with charges appearing 7 days before the June 5 launch.

UK retailers

Beyond My Nintendo Store, Currys has listed in-person availability for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the UK (Stuart’s Pixel Games). Most other major UK retailers sold out during their initial pre-order windows.

My Nintendo Store details

The My Nintendo Store invitation system works as follows: create or log into your Nintendo Account, ensure your account is registered to a UK or Ireland address, wait for an invitation email from My Nintendo Store UK, and complete your pre-order within the specified payment window.

How much is the Nintendo Switch 2 in Ireland?

The US retail price is confirmed at $449.99 for the standard Nintendo Switch 2, though official UK and Ireland pricing has not been publicly announced by Nintendo (Stuart’s Pixel Games). Retailers including Smyth’s Toys and Currys have listed the Nintendo Switch 2 (Black) model on their sites without confirmed pricing.

The original Nintendo Switch launched at £279.99 in the UK and €329.99 in Ireland. Given hardware improvements and market conditions, the Switch 2 is expected to command a premium over these figures.

Pricing at stores

Smyth’s Toys and Currys both offer the Nintendo Switch 2 (Black) on their platforms, though specific pricing for these markets remains unpublished. Buyers should monitor these retailers directly for pricing updates as launch approaches.

Regional differences

France reportedly received approximately 300,000 units for launch — three times more than the original Switch or PlayStation 5 received for their first week in France (Stuart’s Pixel Games). UK and Ireland stock allocation figures have not been officially disclosed.

Regional Pre-Order Comparison

Nintendo deployed three distinct pre-order formats across global markets: application windows, lotteries, and first-come-first-served rushes — each producing different outcomes for buyers.

The table below shows how different regions managed pre-order demand, revealing Nintendo’s varied strategies for handling supply constraints across markets.

The lottery approach in Japan and Australia/New Zealand was designed to manage demand that overwhelmed standard pre-order systems. The US delay and UK invitation-only model reflect Nintendo’s attempts to create orderly processes in high-demand markets.

How to Pre-Order: Step-by-Step for UK Buyers

The My Nintendo Store UK invitation system requires specific preparation. Here’s how to position yourself for the best chance of securing a pre-order.

1. Create or log into your Nintendo Account at store.nintendo.co.uk and verify your account is registered to a UK or Ireland address.
2. Check Switch Online status — My Nintendo Store has prioritized accounts with paid Nintendo Switch Online membership, with 2 years cited as a qualifying threshold.
3. Confirm your email is current since invitation notifications arrive via email from My Nintendo Store UK.
4. Monitor your email inbox for pre-order invitation emails, which include a link to complete your purchase within a specified window.
5. Complete payment promptly once invited — pre-order notifications include a deadline, and missed windows may not be recoverable.
6. Payment processes 7 days before release — ensure your payment method on your Nintendo Account is valid and has sufficient funds around May 29, 2025.

Following these steps maximizes your chances of securing a pre-order through the invitation system, though timing and account status ultimately determine eligibility.

Switch 2 Pre-Order Timeline

The sequence of pre-order events across regions tells the story of demand overwhelming supply in multiple markets simultaneously.

The timeline reveals a pattern: each region experienced its own version of demand surge, with Nintendo deploying different mechanisms (invitations, lotteries, delayed starts) to manage the pressure.

What We Know vs What’s Unclear

What Experts Are Saying

“The Switch 2 has sold out in at least 9 countries (online retailers), and possibly 10 with Brazil with occasional restocks occurring.”

Stuart’s Pixel Games (Pre-order Tracker)

“Nintendo has officially warned buyers that Switch 2 preorders may not arrive on launch day!”

News Report (YouTube)

Analysts predict Switch 2 could move 5 million+ units in its first week globally, compared to the original Switch’s 2.74 million units sold during its first several weeks (Stuart’s Pixel Games). Japan alone was expected to account for 800,000 to 1 million sales at launch.

For UK and Ireland buyers, the practical implication is clear: the My Nintendo Store invitation system is your primary path forward, and those without active invitations face either limited in-person options at Currys or inflated third-party resale prices. Nintendo has not confirmed additional restocks for UK and Ireland markets.

Related reading: Where Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are available globally · Will Switch 2 be the fastest-selling console ever?

My Nintendo invitations started April 8 for UK fans, while UK pre-order prices guide details Smyths Toys and ShopTo openings amid rapid sell-outs and delays.

Frequently asked questions

For Irish buyers, the reality is straightforward: check Smyth’s Toys and Currys directly, since Currys has confirmed in-person availability. Smyth’s Toys newsletter signup at smythstoys.com is worth setting up for availability updates. Nintendo eShop pre-orders process payment 7 days before release — ensure your payment details are current.